,gleanings from the ,writings of ,bah'u'llh 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 ,i3 ,lauded and glorified art ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 my444 ,,ii3 ,the beginning of all things is the knowledge444 ,,iii3 ,the ,revelation which1 from time immemorial1444 ,,iv3 ,this is the ,day in which ,god's most excellent444 ,v3 ,this is the ,day whereon the ,ocean of ,god's444 ,,vi3 ,behold1 how the divers peoples and kindreds444 ,,vii3 ,verily ,i say1 this is the ,day in which mankind444 ,,viii3 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,these are the444 ,,ix3 ,o ,husayn6 ,consider the eagerness with which444 ,x3 ,the time foreordained unto the peoples and444 ,,xi3 ,all glory be to this ,day1 the ,day in which the444 ,,xii3 ,bestir yourselves1 ,o people1 in anticipation of444 ,,xiii3 ,consider the past4 ,how many1 both high and444 ,,xiv3 ,the ,divine ,springtime is come1 ,o ,most ,exalted444 ,,xv3 ,the ,pen of ,revelation exclaimeth3 8,on this444 ,,xvi3 ,say3 ,o men6 ,this is a matchless ,day4444 ,,xvii3 ,by ,him ,who is the ,great ,announcement6444 ,,xviii3 ,say3 ,we have caused the rivers of ,divine444 ,,xix3 ,to every discerning and illuminated heart it444 ,,xx3 ,know thou of a certainty that the ,unseen444 ,,xxi3 ,o ,salmn6 ,the door of the knowledge of444 ,,xxii3 ,the ,bearers of the ,trust of ,god are made444 ,,xxiii3 ,consider the former generations4 ,witness444 ,,xxiv3 ,beware1 ,o believers in the ,unity of ,god1444 ,,xxv3 ,it is evident that every age in which a ,manifestation444 ,,xxvi3 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,all-,possessing1 the444 ,,xxvii3 ,all praise to the unity of ,god1 and all444 ,,xxviii3 ,happy is the man who will arise to serve444 ,,xxix3 ,the purpose of ,god in creating man hath444 ,,xxx3 ,god witnesseth that there is no ,god but444 ,,xxxi3 ,contemplate with thine inward eye the444 ,,xxxii3 ,that which thou hast heard concerning444 ,,xxxiii3 ,it hath been decreed by ,us that the ,word444 ,,xxxiv3 ,all praise and glory be to ,god ,who1444 ,,xxxv3 ,ponder a while4 ,what is it that prompted1444 ,,xxxvi3 ,know thou that when the ,son of ,man444 ,,xxxvii3 ,blessed is the man that hath acknowledged444 ,,xxxviii3 ,know of a certainty that in every ,dispensation444 ,,xxxix3 ,praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,lord ,my ,god1 for the444 ,,xl3 ,o ,my ,well-,beloved6 ,thou hast breathed ,thy444 ,,xli3 ,god is ,my witness1 ,o people6 ,i was asleep444 ,,xlii3 ,o ,son of ,justice6 ,in the night season the444 ,,xliii3 ,o ,afnn1 ,o thou that hast branched from444 ,,xliv3 ,lay not aside the fear of ,god1 ,o ye the444 ,,xlv3 ,the ,ancient ,beauty hath consented to be444 ,,xlvi3 ,i sorrow not for the burden of ,my imprisonment4444 ,,xlvii3 ,o ,jews6 ,if ye be intent on crucifying once444 ,,xlviii3 ,god is my witness6 ,had it not been in444 ,,xlix3 ,know verily that whenever this ,youth444 ,l3 ,shake off1 ,o heedless ones1 the slumber of444 ,,li3 ,o people6 ,i swear by the one true ,god6 ,this444 ,,lii3 ,say3 ,o people6 ,withhold not from yourselves444 ,,liii3 ,o ,nir1 ,o ,my servant6 ,god1 the ,eternal444 ,,liv3 ,by the righteousness of ,god1 my ,well-,beloved6444 ,,lv3 ,call thou to remembrance1 ,o ,land of ,t444 ,,lvi3 ,let nothing grieve thee1 ,o ,land of ,t444 ,,lvii3 ,when thou art departed out of the court of444 ,,lviii3 ,call thou to mind that which hath been444 ,,lix3 ,every unbiased observer will readily admit444 ,,lx3 ,my captivity can bring on ,me no shame4444 ,,lxi3 ,the world is in travail1 and its agitation444 ,,lxii3 ,recall thou to mind ,my sorrows1 ,my cares444 ,,lxiii3 ,o thou whose face is turned towards ,me6444 ,,lxiv3 ,it is ,our wish to remember the ,abode of444 ,,lxv3 ,call ,thou to remembrance ,thine arrival in444 ,,lxvi3 ,fear ,god1 ye inhabitants of the ,city 7,constantinople71444 ,,lxvii3 ,there hath appeared in this ,revelation444 ,,lxviii3 ,o thou who art the fruit of ,my ,tree and444 ,,lxix3 ,call thou to mind the behavior of ,ashraf's444 ,,lxx3 ,the world's equilibrium hath been upset444 ,,lxxi3 ,be not dismayed1 ,o peoples of the world1444 ,,lxxii3 ,let not your hearts be perturbed1 ,o people1444 ,,lxxiii3 ,it is clear and evident that when the veils444 ,,lxxiv3 ,every word that proceedeth out of the444 ,,lxxv3 ,tear asunder1 in ,my ,name1 the veils that444 ,,lxxvi3 ,give ear1 ,o ,my servant1 unto that which444 ,,lxxvii3 ,and now1 concerning thy question regarding444 ,,lxxviii3 ,as to thy question concerning the origin444 ,,lxxix3 ,as to thy question concerning the worlds444 ,,lxxx3 ,thou hast asked ,me whether man1 as apart444 ,,lxxxi3 ,and now concerning thy question regarding444 ,,lxxxii3 ,thou hast asked ,me concerning the444 ,,lxxxiii3 ,consider the rational faculty with which444 ,,lxxxiv3 ,regard thou the one true ,god as ,one444 ,,lxxxv3 ,o ,my servants6 ,it behoveth you to refresh444 ,,lxxxvi3 ,and now concerning thy question444 ,,lxxxvii3 ,and now regarding thy question1 8,how444 ,,lxxxviii3 ,know verily that the essence of justice444 ,,lxxxix3 ,know assuredly that just as thou firmly444 ,,xc3 ,whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on444 ,,xci3 ,amongst the proofs demonstrating the truth444 ,,xcii3 ,the ,book of ,god is wide open1 and ,his444 ,,xciii3 ,know thou that every created thing is a444 ,,xciv3 ,and now concerning thy reference to the444 ,,xcv3 ,know thou that1 according to what thy444 ,,xcvi3 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high is unceasingly444 ,,xcvii3 ,consider the doubts which they who have444 ,,xcviii3 ,say3 ,o leaders of religion6 ,weigh not the444 ,,xcix3 ,the vitality of men's belief in ,god is dying444 ,c3 ,the voice of the ,divine ,herald1 proceeding444 ,,ci3 ,the purpose underlying the revelation of444 ,,cii3 ,give a hearing ear1 ,o people1 to that which444 ,,ciii3 ,god hath1 through ,his tongue that uttereth444 ,,civ3 ,o ye peoples of the world6 ,know1 verily1444 ,,cv3 ,o kings of the earth6 ,he ,who is the sovereign444 ,,cvi3 ,the ,all-,knowing ,physician hath ,his finger444 ,,cvii3 ,he ,who is your ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1444 ,,cviii3 ,we have a fixed time for you1 ,o peoples4444 ,,cix3 ,o ,kaml6 ,the heights which1 through the444 ,,cx3 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,o ye children of men6444 ,,cxi3 ,o contending peoples and kindreds of the444 ,,cxii3 ,behold the disturbances which1 for many a444 ,,cxiii3 ,dost thou imagine1 ,o ,minister of the ,shah444 ,,cxiv3 ,hearken1 ,o ,king 7,suln #8,abdu'l-#8,azz71444 ,,cxv3 ,the ,pen of ,revelation1 ,o ,dhabih1 hath1 in444 ,,cxvi3 ,o kings of ,christendom6 ,heard ye not the444 ,,cxvii3 ,the ,great ,being1 wishing to reveal the444 ,,cxviii3 ,lay not aside the fear of ,god1 ,o kings of444 ,,cxix3 ,o ye rulers of the earth6 ,wherefore have444 ,,cxx3 ,o ye the elected representatives of the people444 ,,cxxi3 ,say3 ,o ye that envy ,me and seek ,my hurt6444 ,,cxxii3 ,man is the supreme ,talisman4 ,lack of a444 ,,cxxiii3 ,the generations that have gone on before444 ,,cxxiv3 ,how wondrous is the unity of the ,living1444 ,,cxxv3 ,o ,my brother6 ,when a true seeker determineth444 ,,cxxvi3 ,to whatever place ,we may be banished1444 ,,cxxvii3 ,if it be your wish1 ,o people1 to know444 ,,cxxviii3 ,say3 ,doth it beseem a man while claiming444 ,,cxxix3 ,o wayfarer in the path of ,god6 ,take444 ,,cxxx3 ,be generous in prosperity1 and thankful in444 ,,cxxxi3 ,the ,pen of the ,ancient ,king hath never444 ,,cxxxii3 ,the ,purpose of the one true ,god1 exalted444 ,,cxxxiii3 ,the ordinances of ,god have been sent444 ,,cxxxiv3 ,the first and foremost duty prescribed444 ,,cxxxv3 ,o ,letter of the ,living6 ,the ear of ,god444 ,,cxxxvi3 ,say3 ,deliver your souls1 ,o people1 from444 ,,cxxxvii3 ,some have regarded it as lawful to infringe444 ,,cxxxviii3 ,thou seest1 ,o ,god of ,mercy1 ,thou444 ,,cxxxix3 ,let thine ear be attentive1 ,o ,nabl-i-#8,aam1444 ,,cxl3 ,o ,muammad-#8,al6 ,great is the blessedness444 ,,cxli3 ,a ,book sent down in truth unto men of444 ,,cxlii3 ,i swear by the beauty of the ,well-,beloved6444 ,,cxliii3 ,blessed art thou1 ,o ,my servant1 inasmuch444 ,,cxliv3 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath decreed444 ,,cxlv3 ,if ye meet the abased or the down-trodden1444 ,,cxlvi3 ,it is ,our wish and desire that every one of444 ,,cxlvii3 ,the ,most ,great ,name beareth ,me witness6444 ,,cxlviii3 ,o ,salmn6 ,all that the sages and mystics444 ,,cxlix3 ,should any man1 in this ,day1 arise and1444 ,,cl3 ,when the victory arriveth1 every man shall444 ,,cli3 ,release yourselves1 ,o nightingales of ,god1444 ,,clii3 ,thine eye is ,my trust1 suffer not the dust444 ,,cliii3 ,o banished and faithful friend6 ,quench the444 ,,cliv3 ,warn1 ,o ,salmn1 the beloved of the one444 ,,clv3 ,the first duty prescribed by ,god for ,his444 ,,clvi3 ,he ,who is the ,eternal ,truth hath1 from444 ,,clvii3 ,they that have forsaken their country for444 ,,clviii3 ,god hath prescribed unto every one the444 ,,clix3 ,consider the pettiness of men's minds4 ,they444 ,,clx3 ,he is indeed a true believer in the unity of444 ,,clxi3 ,gird up the loins of thine endeavor1 that444 ,,clxii3 ,the ,all-,merciful hath conferred upon man444 ,,clxiii3 ,all praise be to ,god ,who hath adorned444 ,,clxiv3 ,members of the human race6 ,hold ye fast444 ,,clxv3 ,know thou that every hearing ear1 if kept444 ,,clxvi3 ,whoso layeth claim to a ,revelation direct444 ,i3 ,,lauded ,,and ,,glorified ,,art ,,thou1 ,o ,,lord1 ,,my444 ,lauded and glorified art ,thou1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god6 ,how can ,i make mention of ,thee1 assured as ,i am that no tongue1 however deep its wisdom1 can befittingly magnify ,thy name1 nor can the bird of the human heart1 however great its longing1 ever hope to ascend into the heaven of ,thy majesty and knowledge4 ,if ,i describe ,thee1 ,o my ,god1 as ,him ,who is the ,all-,perceiving1 ,i find myself compelled to admit that ,they ,who are the highest ,embodiments of perception have been created by virtue of ,thy behest4 ,and if ,i extol ,thee as ,him ,who is the ,all-,wise1 ,i1 likewise1 am forced to recognize that the ,well ,springs of wisdom have themselves been generated through the operation of ,thy ,will4 ,and if ,i proclaim ,thee as the ,incomparable ,one1 ,i soon discover that they ,who are the inmost essence of oneness have been sent down by ,thee and are but the evidences of ,thine handiwork4 ,and if ,i acclaim ,thee as the ,knower of all things1 ,i must confess that they ,who are the ,quintessence of knowledge are but the creation and instruments of ,thy ,purpose4 ,exalted1 immeasurably exalted1 art ,thou above the strivings of mortal man to unravel ,thy mystery1 to describe ,thy glory1 or even to hint at the nature of ,thine ,essence4 ,for whatever such strivings may accomplish1 they never can hope to transcend the limitations imposed upon ,thy creatures1 inasmuch as these efforts are actuated by ,thy decree1 and are begotten of ,thine invention4 ,the loftiest sentiments which the holiest of saints can express in praise of ,thee1 and the deepest wisdom which the most learned of men can utter in their attempts to comprehend ,thy nature1 all revolve around that ,center ,which is wholly subjected to ,thy sovereignty1 ,which adoreth ,thy ,beauty1 and is propelled through the movement of ,thy ,pen4 ,nay1 forbid it1 ,o my ,god1 that ,i should have uttered such words as must of necessity imply the existence of any direct relationship between the ,pen of ,thy ,revelation and the essence of all created things4 ,far1 far are ,they ,who are related to ,thee above the conception of such relationship6 ,all comparisons and likenesses fail to do justice to the ,tree of ,thy ,revelation1 and every way is barred to the comprehension of the ,manifestation of ,thy ,self and the ,day ,spring of ,thy ,beauty4 ,far1 far from ,thy glory be what mortal man can affirm of ,thee1 or attribute unto ,thee1 or the praise with which he can glorify ,thee6 ,whatever duty ,thou hast prescribed unto ,thy servants of extolling to the utmost ,thy majesty and glory is but a token of ,thy grace unto them1 that they may be enabled to ascend unto the station conferred upon their own inmost being1 the station of the knowledge of their own selves4 ,no one else besides ,thee hath1 at any time1 been able to fathom ,thy mystery1 or befittingly to extol ,thy greatness4 ,unsearchable and high above the praise of men wilt ,thou remain for ever4 ,there is none other ,god but ,thee1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,omnipotent1 the ,omniscient1 the ,holy of ,holies4 ,,ii3 ,,the ,,beginning ,,of ,,all ,,things ,,is ,,the ,,knowledge444 ,the beginning of all things is the knowledge of ,god1 and the end of all things is strict observance of whatsoever hath been sent down from the empyrean of the ,divine ,will that pervadeth all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,,iii3 ,,the ,,revelation ,,which1 ,,from ,,time ,,immemorial1444 ,the ,revelation which1 from time immemorial1 hath been acclaimed as the ,purpose and ,promise of all the ,prophets of ,god1 and the most cherished ,desire of ,his ,messengers1 hath now1 by virtue of the pervasive ,will of the ,almighty and at ,his irresistible bidding1 been revealed unto men4 ,the advent of such a ,revelation hath been heralded in all the sacred ,scriptures4 ,behold how1 notwithstanding such an announcement1 mankind hath strayed from its path and shut out itself from its glory4 ,say3 ,o ye lovers of the ,one true ,god6 ,strive1 that ye may truly recognize and know ,him1 and observe befittingly ,his precepts4 ,this is a ,revelation1 under which1 if a man shed for its sake one drop of blood1 myriads of oceans will be his recompense4 ,take heed1 ,o friends1 that ye forfeit not so inestimable a benefit1 or disregard its transcendent station4 ,consider the multitude of lives that have been1 and are still being1 sacrificed in a world deluded by a mere phantom which the vain imaginations of its peoples have conceived4 ,render thanks unto ,god1 inasmuch as ye have attained unto your heart's ,desire1 and been united to ,him ,who is the ,promise of all nations4 ,guard ye1 with the aid of the one true ,god--exalted be ,his glory--the integrity of the station which ye have attained1 and cleave to that which shall promote ,his ,cause4 ,he1 verily1 enjoineth on you what is right and conducive to the exaltation of man's station4 ,glorified be the ,all-,merciful1 the ,revealer of this wondrous ,tablet4 ,,iv3 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,day ,,in ,,which ,,god',s ,,most ,,excellent444 ,this is the ,day in which ,god's most excellent favors have been poured out upon men1 the ,day in which ,his most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things4 ,it is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences1 and1 with perfect unity and peace1 abide beneath the shadow of the ,tree of ,his care and loving-kindness4 ,it behoveth them to cleave to whatsoever will1 in this ,day1 be conducive to the exaltation of their stations1 and to the promotion of their best interests4 ,happy are those whom the all-glorious ,pen was moved to remember1 and blessed are those men whose names1 by virtue of ,our inscrutable decree1 ,we have preferred to conceal4 ,beseech ye the one true ,god to grant that all men may be graciously assisted to fulfil that which is acceptable in ,our sight4 ,soon will the present-day order be rolled up1 and a new one spread out in its stead4 ,verily1 thy ,lord speaketh the truth1 and is the ,knower of things unseen4 ,v3 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,day ,,whereon ,,the ,,ocean ,,of ,,god',s444 ,this is the ,day whereon the ,ocean of ,god's mercy hath been manifested unto men1 the ,day in which the ,day ,star of ,his loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them1 the ,day in which the clouds of ,his bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of mankind4 ,now is the time to cheer and refresh the down-cast through the invigorating breeze of love and fellowship1 and the living waters of friendliness and charity4 ,they who are the beloved of ,god1 in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet1 must evince1 in their attitude towards ,god1 and in the manner of their celebration of ,his praise and glory1 such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion4 ,the conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence4 ,they should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these3 8,i am to be preferred above you4 ,for witness1 how patient ,i am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me4 ,i am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which ,he ,who is the ,source of all grace hath entrusted me4 ,notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me1 and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth--a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation--behold the measure of my humility1 witness with what absolute submissiveness ,i allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men44440 ,show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another4 ,should any one among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth1 or be striving to comprehend it1 show forth1 when conversing with him1 a spirit of extreme kindliness and good-will4 ,help him to see and recognize the truth1 without esteeming yourself to be1 in the least1 superior to him1 or to be possessed of greater endowments4 ,the whole duty of man in this ,day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which ,god poureth forth for him4 ,let none1 therefore1 consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle4 ,the portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand1 the portion of others might fill a cup1 and of others even a gallon-measure4 ,every eye1 in this ,day1 should seek what will best promote the ,cause of ,god4 ,he1 ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 beareth ,me witness6 ,nothing whatever can1 in this ,day1 inflict a greater harm upon this ,cause than dissension and strife1 contention1 estrangement and apathy1 among the loved ones of ,god4 ,flee them1 through the power of ,god and ,his sovereign aid1 and strive ye to knit together the hearts of men1 in ,his ,name1 the ,unifier1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,beseech ye the one true ,god to grant that ye may taste the savor of such deeds as are performed in ,his path1 and partake of the sweetness of such humility and submissiveness as are shown for ,his sake4 ,forget your own selves1 and turn your eyes towards your neighbor4 ,bend your energies to whatever may foster the education of men4 ,nothing is1 or can ever be1 hidden from ,god4 ,if ye follow in ,his way1 ,his incalculable and imperishable blessings will be showered upon you4 ,this is the luminous ,tablet1 whose verses have streamed from the moving ,pen of ,him ,who is the ,lord of all worlds4 ,ponder it in your hearts1 and be ye of them that observe its precepts4 ,,vi3 ,,behold1 ,,how ,,the ,,divers ,,peoples ,,and ,,kindreds444 ,behold1 how the divers peoples and kindreds of the earth have been waiting for the coming of the ,promised ,one4 ,no sooner had ,he1 ,who is the ,sun of ,truth1 been made manifest1 than1 lo1 all turned away from ,him1 except them whom ,god was pleased to guide4 ,we dare not1 in this ,day1 lift the veil that concealeth the exalted station which every true believer can attain1 for the joy which such a revelation must provoke might well cause a few to faint away and die4 ,he ,who is the ,heart and ,center of the ,bayn hath written3 8,the germ that holdeth within itself the potentialities of the ,revelation that is to come is endowed with a potency superior to the combined forces of all those who follow ,me40 ,and1 again1 ,he saith3 8,of all the tributes ,i have paid to ,him ,who is to come after ,me1 the greatest is this1 ,my written confession1 that no words of ,mine can adequately describe ,him1 nor can any reference to ,him in ,my ,book1 the ,bayn1 do justice to ,his ,cause40 ,whoso hath searched the depths of the oceans that lie hid within these exalted words1 and fathomed their import1 can be said to have discovered a glimmer of the unspeakable glory with which this mighty1 this sublime1 and most holy ,revelation hath been endowed4 ,from the excellence of so great a ,revelation the honor with which its faithful followers must needs be invested can be well imagined4 ,by the righteousness of the one true ,god6 ,the very breath of these souls is in itself richer than all the treasures of the earth4 ,happy is the man that hath attained thereunto1 and woe betide the heedless4 ,,vii3 ,,verily ,i ,,say1 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,day ,,in ,,which ,,mankind444 ,verily ,i say1 this is the ,day in which mankind can behold the ,face1 and hear the ,voice1 of the ,promised ,one4 ,the ,call of ,god hath been raised1 and the light of ,his countenance hath been lifted up upon men4 ,it behoveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart1 and to gaze1 with an open and unbiased mind1 on the signs of ,his ,revelation1 the proofs of ,his ,mission1 and the tokens of ,his glory4 ,great indeed is this ,day6 ,the allusions made to it in all the sacred ,scriptures as the ,day of ,god attest its greatness4 ,the soul of every ,prophet of ,god1 of every ,divine ,messenger1 hath thirsted for this wondrous ,day4 ,all the divers kindreds of the earth have1 likewise1 yearned to attain it4 ,no sooner1 however1 had the ,day ,star of ,his ,revelation manifested itself in the heaven of ,god's ,will1 than all1 except those whom the ,almighty was pleased to guide1 were found dumbfounded and heedless4 ,o thou that hast remembered ,me6 ,the most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples of the earth from ,his glory1 and hindered them from hearkening to ,his call4 ,god grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth1 and that the seal1 8the ,kingdom is ,god's01 may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples4 ,,viii3 ,,by ,,the ,,righteousness ,,of ,,god6 ,,these ,,are ,,the444 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,these are the days in which ,god hath proved the hearts of the entire company of ,his ,messengers and ,prophets1 and beyond them those that stand guard over ,his sacred and inviolable ,sanctuary1 the inmates of the celestial ,pavilion and dwellers of the ,tabernacle of ,glory4 ,how severe1 therefore1 the test to which they who join partners with ,god must needs be subjected6 ,,ix3 ,o ,,usayn6 ,,consider ,,the ,,eagerness ,,with ,,which444 ,o usayn6 ,consider the eagerness with which certain peoples and nations have anticipated the return of ,imm-usayn1 whose coming1 after the appearance of the ,q'im1 hath been prophesied1 in days past1 by the chosen ones of ,god1 exalted be ,his glory4 ,these holy ones have1 moreover1 announced that when ,he ,who is the ,day ,spring of the manifold grace of ,god manifesteth ,himself1 all the ,prophets and ,messengers1 including the ,q'im1 will gather together beneath the shadow of the sacred ,standard which the ,promised ,one will raise4 ,that hour is now come4 ,the world is illumined with the effulgent glory of ,his countenance4 ,and yet1 behold how far its peoples have strayed from ,his path6 ,none have believed in ,him except them who1 through the power of the ,lord of ,names1 have shattered the idols of their vain imaginings and corrupt desires and entered the city of certitude4 ,the seal of the choice ,wine of ,his ,revelation hath1 in this ,day and in ,his ,name1 the ,self-,sufficing1 been broken4 ,its grace is being poured out upon men4 ,fill thy cup1 and drink in1 in ,his ,name1 the ,most ,holy1 the ,all-,praised4 ,x3 ,,the ,,time ,,foreordained ,,unto ,,the ,,peoples ,,and444 ,the time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come4 ,the promises of ,god1 as recorded in the holy ,scriptures1 have all been fulfilled4 ,out of ,zion hath gone forth the ,law of ,god1 and ,jerusalem1 and the hills and land thereof1 are filled with the glory of ,his ,revelation4 ,happy is the man that pondereth in his heart that which hath been revealed in the ,books of ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,meditate upon this1 ,o ye beloved of ,god1 and let your ears be attentive unto ,his ,word1 so that ye may1 by ,his grace and mercy1 drink your fill from the crystal waters of constancy1 and become as steadfast and immovable as the mountain in ,his ,cause4 ,in the ,book of ,isaiah it is written3 8,enter into the rock1 and hide thee in the dust1 for fear of the ,lord1 and for the glory of ,his majesty40 ,no man that meditateth upon this verse can fail to recognize the greatness of this ,cause1 or doubt the exalted character of this ,day--the ,day of ,god ,himself4 ,this same verse is followed by these words3 8,and the ,lord alone shall be exalted in that ,day40 ,this is the ,day which the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath glorified in all the holy ,scriptures4 ,there is no verse in them that doth not declare the glory of ,his holy ,name1 and no ,book that doth not testify unto the loftiness of this most exalted theme4 ,were ,we to make mention of all that hath been revealed in these heavenly ,books and holy ,scriptures concerning this ,revelation1 this ,tablet would assume impossible dimensions4 ,it is incumbent in this ,day1 upon every man to place his whole trust in the manifold bounties of ,god1 and arise to disseminate1 with the utmost wisdom1 the verities of ,his ,cause4 ,then1 and only then1 will the whole earth be enveloped with the morning light of ,his ,revelation4 ,,xi3 ,,all ,,glory ,,be ,,to ,,this ,,day1 ,,the ,,day ,,in ,,which ,,the444 ,all glory be to this ,day1 the ,day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things1 a ,day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it1 a ,day in which the countenance of the ,ancient of ,days hath turned towards ,his holy seat4 ,thereupon the voices of all created things1 and beyond them those of the ,concourse on high1 were heard calling aloud3 8,haste thee1 ,o ,carmel1 for lo1 the light of the countenance of ,god1 the ,ruler of the ,kingdom of ,names and ,fashioner of the heavens1 hath been lifted upon thee40 ,seized with transports of joy1 and raising high her voice1 she thus exclaimed3 8,may my life be a sacrifice to ,thee1 inasmuch as ,thou hast fixed ,thy gaze upon me1 hast bestowed upon me ,thy bounty1 and hast directed towards me ,thy steps4 ,separation from ,thee1 ,o ,thou ,source of everlasting life1 hath well nigh consumed me1 and my remoteness from ,thy presence hath burned away my soul4 ,all praise be to ,thee for having enabled me to hearken to ,thy call1 for having honored me with ,thy footsteps1 and for having quickened my soul through the vitalizing fragrance of ,thy ,day and the shrilling voice of ,thy ,pen1 a voice ,thou didst ordain as ,thy trumpet-call amidst ,thy people4 ,and when the hour at which ,thy resistless ,faith was to be made manifest did strike1 ,thou didst breathe a breath of ,thy spirit into ,thy ,pen1 and lo1 the entire creation shook to its very foundations1 unveiling to mankind such mysteries as lay hidden within the treasuries of ,him ,who is the ,possessor of all created things40 ,no sooner had her voice reached that most exalted ,spot than ,we made reply3 8,render thanks unto thy ,lord1 ,o ,carmel4 ,the fire of thy separation from ,me was fast consuming thee1 when the ocean of ,my presence surged before thy face1 cheering thine eyes and those of all creation1 and filling with delight all things visible and invisible4 ,rejoice1 for ,god hath in this ,day established upon thee ,his throne1 hath made thee the dawning-place of ,his signs and the day spring of the evidences of ,his ,revelation4 ,well is it with him that circleth around thee1 that proclaimeth the revelation of thy glory1 and recounteth that which the bounty of the ,lord thy ,god hath showered upon thee4 ,seize thou the ,chalice of ,immortality in the name of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 and give thanks unto ,him1 inasmuch as ,he1 in token of ,his mercy unto thee1 hath turned thy sorrow into gladness1 and transmuted thy grief into blissful joy4 ,he1 verily1 loveth the spot which hath been made the seat of ,his throne1 which ,his footsteps have trodden1 which hath been honored by ,his presence1 from which ,he raised ,his call1 and upon which ,he shed ,his tears4 8,call out to ,zion1 ,o ,carmel1 and announce the joyful tidings3 ,he that was hidden from mortal eyes is come6 ,his all-conquering sovereignty is manifest2 ,his all-encompassing splendor is revealed4 ,beware lest thou hesitate or halt4 ,hasten forth and circumambulate the ,city of ,god that hath descended from heaven1 the celestial ,kaaba round which have circled in adoration the favored of ,god1 the pure in heart1 and the company of the most exalted angels4 ,oh1 how ,i long to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth1 and to carry to each one of its cities1 the glad-tidings of this ,revelation--a ,revelation to which the heart of ,sinai hath been attracted1 and in whose name the ,burning ,bush is calling3 #8,unto ,god1 the ,lord of ,lords1 belong the kingdoms of earth and heaven4' ,verily this is the ,day in which both land and sea rejoice at this announcement1 the ,day for which have been laid up those things which ,god1 through a bounty beyond the ken of mortal mind or heart1 hath destined for revelation4 ,ere long will ,god sail ,his ,ark upon thee1 and will manifest the people of ,bah who have been mentioned in the ,book of ,names40 ,sanctified be the ,lord of all mankind1 at the mention of ,whose name all the atoms of the earth have been made to vibrate1 and the ,tongue of ,grandeur hath been moved to disclose that which had been wrapt in ,his knowledge and lay concealed within the treasury of ,his might4 ,he1 verily1 through the potency of ,his name1 the ,mighty1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,most ,high1 is the ruler of all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth4 ,,xii3 ,,bestir ,,yourselves1 ,o ,,people1 ,,in ,,anticipation ,,of444 ,bestir yourselves1 ,o people1 in anticipation of the days of ,divine justice1 for the promised hour is now come4 ,beware lest ye fail to apprehend its import and be accounted among the erring4 ,,xiii3 ,,consider ,,the ,,past4 ,,how ,,many1 ,,both ,,high ,,and444 ,consider the past4 ,how many1 both high and low1 have1 at all times1 yearningly awaited the advent of the ,manifestations of ,god in the sanctified persons of ,his chosen ,ones4 ,how often have they expected ,his coming1 how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of ,divine mercy might blow1 and the promised ,beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment1 and be made manifest to all the world4 ,and whensoever the portals of grace did open1 and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon mankind1 and the light of the ,unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial might1 they all denied ,him1 and turned away from ,his face--the face of ,god ,himself4444 ,reflect1 what could have been the motive for such deeds8 ,what could have prompted such behavior towards the ,revealers of the beauty of the ,all-,glorious8 ,whatever in days gone by hath been the cause of the denial and opposition of those people hath now led to the perversity of the people of this age4 ,to maintain that the testimony of ,providence was incomplete1 that it hath therefore been the cause of the denial of the people1 is but open blasphemy4 ,how far from the grace of the ,all-,bountiful and from ,his loving providence and tender mercies it is to single out a soul from amongst all men for the guidance of ,his creatures1 and1 on one hand1 to withhold from ,him the full measure of ,his divine testimony1 and1 on the other1 inflict severe retribution on ,his people for having turned away from ,his chosen ,one6 ,nay1 the manifold bounties of the ,lord of all beings have1 at all times1 through the ,manifestations of ,his ,divine ,essence1 encompassed the earth and all that dwell therein4 ,not for a moment hath ,his grace been withheld1 nor have the showers of ,his loving-kindness ceased to rain upon mankind4 ,consequently1 such behavior can be attributed to naught save the petty-mindedness of such souls as tread the valley of arrogance and pride1 are lost in the wilds of remoteness1 walk in the ways of their idle fancy1 and follow the dictates of the leaders of their faith4 ,their chief concern is mere opposition2 their sole desire is to ignore the truth4 ,unto every discerning observer it is evident and manifest that had these people in the days of each of the ,manifestations of the ,sun of ,truth sanctified their eyes1 their ears1 and their hearts from whatever they had seen1 heard1 and felt1 they surely would not have been deprived of beholding the beauty of ,god1 nor strayed far from the habitations of glory4 ,but having weighed the testimony of ,god by the standard of their own knowledge1 gleaned from the teachings of the leaders of their faith1 and found it at variance with their limited understanding1 they arose to perpetrate such unseemly acts4444 ,consider ,moses6 ,armed with the rod of celestial dominion1 adorned with the white hand of ,divine knowledge1 and proceeding from the ,prn of the love of ,god1 and wielding the serpent of power and everlasting majesty1 ,he shone forth from the ,sinai of light upon the world4 ,he summoned all the peoples and kindreds of the earth to the kingdom of eternity1 and invited them to partake of the fruit of the tree of faithfulness4 ,surely you are aware of the fierce opposition of ,pharaoh and his people1 and of the stones of idle fancy which the hands of infidels cast upon that blessed ,tree4 ,so much so that ,pharaoh and his people finally arose and exerted their utmost endeavor to extinguish with the waters of falsehood and denial the fire of that sacred ,tree1 oblivious of the truth that no earthly water can quench the flames of ,divine wisdom1 nor mortal blasts extinguish the lamp of everlasting dominion4 ,nay1 rather1 such water cannot but intensify the burning of the flame1 and such blasts cannot but ensure the preservation of the lamp1 were ye to observe with the eye of discernment1 and walk in the way of ,god's holy will and pleasure4444 ,and when the days of ,moses were ended1 and the light of ,jesus1 shining forth from the ,day ,spring of the ,spirit1 encompassed the world1 all the people of ,israel arose in protest against ,him4 ,they clamored that ,he ,whose advent the ,bible had foretold must needs promulgate and fulfil the laws of ,moses1 whereas this youthful ,nazarene1 who laid claim to the station of the divine ,messiah1 had annulled the laws of divorce and of the sabbath day--the most weighty of all the laws of ,moses4 ,moreover1 what of the signs of the ,manifestation yet to come8 ,these people of ,israel are even unto the present day still expecting that ,manifestation which the ,bible hath foretold6 ,how many ,manifestations of ,holiness1 how many ,revealers of the light everlasting1 have appeared since the time of ,moses1 and yet ,israel1 wrapt in the densest veils of satanic fancy and false imaginings1 is still expectant that the idol of her own handiwork will appear with such signs as she herself hath conceived6 ,thus hath ,god laid hold of them for their sins1 hath extinguished in them the spirit of faith1 and tormented them with the flames of the nethermost fire4 ,and this for no other reason except that ,israel refused to apprehend the meaning of such words as have been revealed in the ,bible concerning the signs of the coming ,revelation4 ,as she never grasped their true significance1 and1 to outward seeming1 such events never came to pass1 she1 therefore1 remained deprived of recognizing the beauty of ,jesus and of beholding the ,face of ,god4 ,and they still await ,his coming6 ,from time immemorial even unto this day1 all the kindreds and peoples of the earth have clung to such fanciful and unseemly thoughts1 and thus have deprived themselves of the clear waters streaming from the springs of purity and holiness4444 ,to them that are endowed with understanding1 it is clear and manifest that1 when the fire of the love of ,jesus consumed the veils of ,jewish limitations1 and ,his authority was made apparent and partially enforced1 ,he1 the ,revealer of the unseen ,beauty1 addressing one day ,his disciples1 referred unto ,his passing1 and1 kindling in their hearts the fire of bereavement1 said unto them3 8,i go away and come again unto you40 ,and in another place ,he said3 8,i go and another will come1 ,who will tell you all that ,i have not told you1 and will fulfil all that ,i have said40 ,both these sayings have but one meaning1 were ye to ponder upon the ,manifestations of the ,unity of ,god with ,divine insight4 ,every discerning observer will recognize that in the ,dispensation of the ,qur'n both the ,book and the ,cause of ,jesus were confirmed4 ,as to the matter of names1 ,muammad1 ,himself1 declared3 8,i am ,jesus40 ,he recognized the truth of the signs1 prophecies1 and words of ,jesus1 and testified that they were all of ,god4 ,in this sense1 neither the person of ,jesus nor ,his writings hath differed from that of ,muammad and of ,his holy ,book1 inasmuch as both have championed the ,cause of ,god1 uttered ,his praise1 and revealed ,his commandments4 ,thus it is that ,jesus1 ,himself1 declared3 8,i go away and come again unto you40 ,consider the sun4 ,were it to say now1 8,i am the sun of yesterday10 it would speak the truth4 ,and should it1 bearing the sequence of time in mind1 claim to be other than that sun1 it still would speak the truth4 ,in like manner1 if it be said that all the days are but one and the same1 it is correct and true4 ,and if it be said1 with respect to their particular names and designations1 that they differ1 that again is true4 ,for though they are the same1 yet one doth recognize in each a separate designation1 a specific attribute1 a particular character4 ,conceive accordingly the distinction1 variation1 and unity characteristic of the various ,manifestations of holiness1 that thou mayest comprehend the allusions made by the ,creator of all names and attributes to the mysteries of distinction and unity1 and discover the answer to thy question as to why that everlasting ,beauty should have1 at sundry times1 called ,himself by different names and titles4444 ,when the ,unseen1 the ,eternal1 the ,divine ,essence1 caused the ,day ,star of ,muammad to rise above the horizon of knowledge1 among the cavils which the ,jewish divines raised against ,him was that after ,moses no ,prophet should be sent of ,god4 ,yea1 mention hath been made in the ,scriptures of a ,soul ,who must needs be made manifest and ,who will advance the ,faith1 and promote the interests of the people of ,moses1 so that the ,law of the ,mosaic ,dispensation may encompass the whole earth4 ,thus hath the ,king of eternal glory referred in ,his ,book to the words uttered by those wanderers in the vale of remoteness and error3 8#8,the hand of ,god1' say the ,jews1 #8is chained up4' ,chained up be their own hands2 ,and for that which they have said1 they were accursed4 ,nay1 outstretched are both ,his hands60 8,the hand of ,god is above their hands40 ,although the commentators of the ,qur'n have related in divers manners the circumstances attending the revelation of this verse1 yet thou shouldst endeavor to apprehend the purpose thereof4 ,he saith3 ,how false is that which the ,jews have imagined6 ,how can the hand of ,him ,who is the ,king in truth1 ,who caused the countenance of ,moses to be made manifest1 and conferred upon ,him the robe of ,prophethood--how can the hand of such a ,one be chained and fettered8 ,how can ,he be conceived as powerless to raise up yet another ,messenger after ,moses8 ,behold the absurdity of their saying2 how far it hath strayed from the path of knowledge and understanding6 ,observe how in this ,day also1 all these people have occupied themselves with such foolish absurdities4 ,for over a thousand years they have been reciting this verse1 and unwittingly pronouncing their censure against the ,jews1 utterly unaware that they themselves1 openly and privily1 are voicing the sentiments and belief of the ,jewish people6 ,thou art surely aware of their idle contention1 that all ,revelation is ended1 that the portals of ,divine mercy are closed1 that from the day springs of eternal holiness no ,sun shall rise again1 that the ,ocean of everlasting bounty is forever stilled1 and that out of the ,tabernacle of ancient glory the ,messengers of ,god have ceased to be made manifest4 ,such is the measure of the understanding of these small-minded1 contemptible people4 ,these people have imagined that the flow of ,god's all-encompassing grace and plenteous mercies1 the cessation of which no mind can contemplate1 has been halted4 ,from every side they have risen and girded up the loins of tyranny1 and exerted the utmost endeavor to quench with the bitter waters of their vain fancy the flame of ,god's ,burning ,bush1 oblivious that the globe of power shall1 within its own mighty stronghold1 protect the ,lamp of ,god4444 ,behold how the sovereignty of ,muammad1 the ,messenger of ,god1 is today apparent and manifest amongst the people4 ,you are well aware of what befell ,his ,faith in the early days of ,his ,dispensation4 ,what woeful sufferings did the hand of the infidel and erring1 the divines of that age and their associates1 inflict upon that spiritual ,essence1 that most pure and holy ,being6 ,how abundant the thorns and briars which they have strewn over ,his path6 ,it is evident that that wretched generation1 in their wicked and satanic fancy1 regarded every injury to that immortal ,being as a means to the attainment of an abiding felicity2 inasmuch as the recognized divines of that age1 such as #8,abdu'llh-i-,ubayy1 ,ab',amr1 the hermit1 ,ka'b-ibn-i-,ashraf1 and ,nadr-ibn-i-,hrith1 all treated ,him as an impostor1 and pronounced ,him a lunatic and a calumniator4 ,such sore accusations they brought against ,him that in recounting them ,god forbiddeth the ink to flow1 ,our pen to move1 or the page to bear them4 ,these malicious imputations provoked the people to arise and torment ,him4 ,and how fierce that torment1 if the divines of the age be its chief instigators1 if they denounce ,him to their followers1 cast ,him out from their midst1 and declare ,him a miscreant6 ,hath not the same befallen this ,servant1 and been witnessed by all8 ,for this reason did ,muammad cry out3 8,no ,prophet of ,god hath suffered such harm as ,i have suffered40 ,and in the ,qur'n are recorded all the calumnies and reproaches uttered against ,him1 as well as all the afflictions which ,he suffered4 ,refer ye thereunto1 that haply ye may be informed of that which hath befallen ,his ,revelation4 ,so grievous was ,his plight1 that for a time all ceased to hold intercourse with ,him and ,his companions4 ,whoever associated with ,him fell a victim to the relentless cruelty of ,his enemies4444 ,consider1 how great is the change today6 ,behold1 how many are the ,sovereigns who bow the knee before ,his name6 ,how numerous the nations and kingdoms who have sought the shelter of ,his shadow1 who bear allegiance to ,his ,faith1 and pride themselves therein6 ,from the pulpit-top there ascendeth today the words of praise which1 in utter lowliness1 glorify ,his blessed name2 and from the heights of minarets there resoundeth the call that summoneth the concourse of ,his people to adore ,him4 ,even those ,kings of the earth who have refused to embrace ,his ,faith and to put off the garment of unbelief1 none-the-less confess and acknowledge the greatness and overpowering majesty of that ,day ,star of loving-kindness4 ,such is ,his earthly sovereignty1 the evidences of which thou dost on every side behold4 ,this sovereignty must needs be revealed and established either in the lifetime of every ,manifestation of ,god or after ,his ascension unto ,his true habitation in the realms above4444 ,it is evident that the changes brought about in every ,dispensation constitute the dark clouds that intervene between the eye of man's understanding and the ,divine ,luminary which shineth forth from the day spring of the ,divine ,essence4 ,consider how men for generations have been blindly imitating their fathers1 and have been trained according to such ways and manners as have been laid down by the dictates of their ,faith4 ,were these men1 therefore1 to discover suddenly that a ,man1 ,who hath been living in their midst1 ,who1 with respect to every human limitation hath been their equal1 had risen to abolish every established principle imposed by their ,faith--principles by which for centuries they have been disciplined1 and every opposer and denier of which they have come to regard as infidel1 profligate and wicked1--they would of a certainty be veiled and hindered from acknowledging ,his truth4 ,such things are as 8clouds0 that veil the eyes of those whose inner being hath not tasted the ,salsabl of detachment1 nor drunk from the ,kawthar of the knowledge of ,god4 ,such men1 when acquainted with those circumstances1 become so veiled that1 without the least question1 they pronounce the ,manifestation of ,god as infidel1 and sentence ,him to death4 ,you must have heard of such things taking place all down the ages1 and are now observing them in these days4 ,it behoveth us1 therefore1 to make the utmost endeavor1 that1 by ,god's invisible assistance1 these dark veils1 these clouds of ,heaven-sent trials1 may not hinder us from beholding the beauty of ,his shining ,countenance1 and that we may recognize ,him only by ,his own ,self4 ,,xiv3 ,,the ,,divine ,,springtime ,,is ,,come1 ,o ,,most ,,exalted444 ,the ,divine ,springtime is come1 ,o ,most ,exalted ,pen1 for the ,festival of the ,all-,merciful is fast approaching4 ,bestir thyself1 and magnify1 before the entire creation1 the name of ,god1 and celebrate ,his praise1 in such wise that all created things may be regenerated and made new4 ,speak1 and hold not thy peace4 ,the day star of blissfulness shineth above the horizon of ,our name1 the ,blissful1 inasmuch as the kingdom of the name of ,god hath been adorned with the ornament of the name of thy ,lord1 the ,creator of the heavens4 ,arise before the nations of the earth1 and arm thyself with the power of this ,most ,great ,name1 and be not of those who tarry4 ,methinks that thou hast halted and movest not upon ,my ,tablet4 ,could the brightness of the ,divine ,countenance have bewildered thee1 or the idle talk of the froward filled thee with grief and paralyzed thy movement8 ,take heed lest anything deter thee from extolling the greatness of this ,day--the ,day whereon the ,finger of majesty and power hath opened the seal of the ,wine of ,reunion1 and called all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,preferrest thou to tarry when the breeze announcing the ,day of ,god hath already breathed over thee1 or art thou of them that are shut out as by a veil from ,him8 ,no veil whatever have ,i allowed1 ,o ,lord of all names and ,creator of the heavens1 to shut me from the recognition of the glories of ,thy ,day--the ,day which is the lamp of guidance unto the whole world1 and the sign of the ,ancient of ,days unto all them that dwell therein4 ,my silence is by reason of the veils that have blinded ,thy creatures' eyes to ,thee1 and my muteness is because of the impediments that have hindered ,thy people from recognizing ,thy truth4 ,thou knowest what is in me1 but ,i know not what is in ,thee4 ,thou art the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,informed4 ,by ,thy name that excelleth all other names6 ,if ,thy overruling and all-compelling behest should ever reach me1 it would empower me to revive the souls of all men1 through ,thy most exalted ,word1 which ,i have heard uttered by ,thy ,tongue of power in ,thy ,kingdom of glory4 ,it would enable me to announce the revelation of ,thy effulgent countenance wherethrough that which lay hidden from the eyes of men hath been manifested in ,thy name1 the ,perspicuous1 the sovereign ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,canst thou discover any one but ,me1 ,o ,pen1 in this ,day8 ,what hath become of the creation and the manifestations thereof8 ,what of the names and their kingdom8 ,whither are gone all created things1 whether seen or unseen8 ,what of the hidden secrets of the universe and its revelations8 ,lo1 the entire creation hath passed away6 ,nothing remaineth except ,my ,face1 the ,ever-,abiding1 the ,resplendent1 the ,all-,glorious4 ,this is the ,day whereon naught can be seen except the splendors of the ,light that shineth from the face of ,thy ,lord1 the ,gracious1 the ,most ,bountiful4 ,verily1 ,we have caused every soul to expire by virtue of ,our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty4 ,we have1 then1 called into being a new creation1 as a token of ,our grace unto men4 ,i am1 verily1 the ,all-,bountiful1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,this is the ,day whereon the unseen world crieth out3 8,great is thy blessedness1 ,o earth1 for thou hast been made the foot-stool of thy ,god1 and been chosen as the seat of ,his mighty throne40 ,the realm of glory exclaimeth3 8,would that my life could be sacrificed for thee1 for ,he ,who is the ,beloved of the ,all-,merciful hath established ,his sovereignty upon thee1 through the power of ,his ,name that hath been promised unto all things1 whether of the past or of the future40 ,this is the ,day whereon every sweet smelling thing hath derived its fragrance from the smell of ,my garment--a garment that hath shed its perfume upon the whole of creation4 ,this is the ,day whereon the rushing waters of everlasting life have gushed out of the ,will of the ,all-,merciful4 ,haste ye1 with your hearts and souls1 and quaff your fill1 ,o ,concourse of the realms above6 ,say3 ,he it is ,who is the ,manifestation of ,him ,who is the ,unknowable1 the ,invisible of the ,invisibles1 could ye but perceive it4 ,he it is ,who hath laid bare before you the hidden and treasured ,gem1 were ye to seek it4 ,he it is ,who is the one ,beloved of all things1 whether of the past or of the future4 ,would that ye might set your hearts and hopes upon ,him6 ,we have heard the voice of thy pleading1 ,o ,pen1 and excuse thy silence4 ,what is it that hath so sorely bewildered thee8 ,the inebriation of ,thy presence1 ,o ,well-,beloved of all worlds1 hath seized and possessed me4 ,arise1 and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that ,he ,who is the ,all-,merciful hath directed ,his steps towards the ,ridvn and entered it4 ,guide1 then1 the people unto the garden of delight which ,god hath made the ,throne of ,his ,paradise4 ,we have chosen thee to be our most mighty ,trumpet1 whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all mankind4 ,say3 ,this is the ,paradise on whose foliage the wine of utterance hath imprinted the testimony3 8,he that was hidden from the eyes of men is revealed1 girded with sovereignty and power60 ,this is the ,paradise1 the rustling of whose leaves proclaims3 8,o ye that inhabit the heavens and the earth6 ,there hath appeared what hath never previously appeared4 ,he ,who1 from everlasting1 had concealed ,his ,face from the sight of creation is now come40 ,from the whispering breeze that wafteth amidst its branches there cometh the cry3 8,he ,who is the sovereign ,lord of all is made manifest4 ,the ,kingdom is ,god's10 while from its streaming waters can be heard the murmur3 8,all eyes are gladdened1 for ,he ,whom none hath beheld1 ,whose secret no one hath discovered1 hath lifted the veil of glory1 and uncovered the countenance of ,beauty40 ,within this ,paradise1 and from the heights of its loftiest chambers1 the ,maids of ,heaven have cried out and shouted3 8,rejoice1 ye dwellers of the realms above1 for the fingers of ,him ,who is the ,ancient of ,days are ringing1 in the name of the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,great ,bell1 in the midmost heart of the heavens4 ,the hands of bounty have borne round the cup of everlasting life4 ,approach1 and quaff your fill4 ,drink with healthy relish1 ,o ye that are the very incarnations of longing1 ye who are the embodiments of vehement desire60 ,this is the ,day whereon ,he ,who is the ,revealer of the names of ,god hath stepped out of the ,tabernacle of glory1 and proclaimed unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth3 8,put away the cups of ,paradise and all the life-giving waters they contain1 for lo1 the people of ,bah have entered the blissful abode of the ,divine ,presence1 and quaffed the wine of reunion1 from the chalice of the beauty of their ,lord1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,most ,high40 ,forget the world of creation1 ,o ,pen1 and turn thou towards the face of thy ,lord1 the ,lord of all names4 ,adorn1 then1 the world with the ornament of the favors of thy ,lord1 the ,king of everlasting days4 ,for ,we perceive the fragrance of the ,day whereon ,he ,who is the ,desire of all nations hath shed upon the kingdoms of the unseen and of the seen the splendor of the light of ,his most excellent names1 and enveloped them with the radiance of the luminaries of ,his most gracious favors--favors which none can reckon except ,him1 ,who is the omnipotent ,protector of the entire creation4 ,look not upon the creatures of ,god except with the eye of kindliness and of mercy1 for ,our loving providence hath pervaded all created things1 and ,our grace encompassed the earth and the heavens4 ,this is the ,day whereon the true servants of ,god partake of the life-giving waters of reunion1 the ,day whereon those that are nigh unto ,him are able to drink of the soft-flowing river of immortality1 and they who believe in ,his unity1 the wine of ,his ,presence1 through their recognition of ,him ,who is the ,highest and ,last ,end of all1 in ,whom the ,tongue of ,majesty and ,glory voiceth the call3 8,the ,kingdom is ,mine4 ,i1 ,myself1 am1 of ,mine own right1 its ,ruler40 ,attract the hearts of men1 through the call of ,him1 the one alone ,beloved4 ,say3 ,this is the ,voice of ,god1 if ye do but hearken4 ,this is the ,day ,spring of the ,revelation of ,god1 did ye but know it4 ,this is the ,dawning-,place of the ,cause of ,god1 were ye to recognize it4 ,this is the ,source of the commandment of ,god1 did ye but judge it fairly4 ,this is the manifest and hidden ,secret2 would that ye might perceive it4 ,o peoples of the world6 ,cast away1 in ,my name that transcendeth all other names1 the things ye possess1 and immerse yourselves in this ,ocean in whose depths lay hidden the pearls of wisdom and of utterance1 an ocean that surgeth in ,my name1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,thus instructeth you ,he with ,whom is the ,mother ,book4 ,the ,best-,beloved is come4 ,in ,his right hand is the sealed ,wine of ,his name4 ,happy is the man that turneth unto ,him1 and drinketh his fill1 and exclaimeth3 8,praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,revealer of the signs of ,god60 ,by the righteousness of the ,almighty6 ,every hidden thing hath been manifested through the power of truth4 ,all the favors of ,god have been sent down1 as a token of ,his grace4 ,the waters of everlasting life have1 in their fullness1 been proffered unto men4 ,every single cup hath been borne round by the hand of the ,well-,beloved4 ,draw near1 and tarry not1 though it be for one short moment4 ,blessed are they that have soared on the wings of detachment and attained the station which1 as ordained by ,god1 overshadoweth the entire creation1 whom neither the vain imaginations of the learned1 nor the multitude of the hosts of the earth have succeeded in deflecting from ,his ,cause4 ,who is there among you1 ,o people1 who will renounce the world1 and draw nigh unto ,god1 the ,lord of all names8 ,where is he to be found who1 through the power of ,my name that transcendeth all created things1 will cast away the things that men possess1 and cling1 with all his might1 to the things which ,god1 the ,knower of the unseen and of the seen1 hath bidden him observe8 ,thus hath ,his bounty been sent down unto men1 ,his testimony fulfilled1 and ,his proof shone forth above the ,horizon of mercy4 ,rich is the prize that shall be won by him who hath believed and exclaimed3 8,lauded art ,thou1 ,o ,beloved of all worlds6 ,magnified be ,thy name1 ,o ,thou the ,desire of every understanding heart60 ,rejoice with exceeding gladness1 ,o people of ,bah1 as ye call to remembrance the ,day of supreme felicity1 the ,day whereon the ,tongue of the ,ancient of ,days hath spoken1 as ,he departed from ,his ,house1 proceeding to the ,spot from which ,he shed upon the whole of creation the splendors of ,his name1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,god is ,our witness4 ,were ,we to reveal the hidden secrets of that ,day1 all they that dwell on earth and in the heavens would swoon away and die1 except such as will be preserved by ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,such is the inebriating effect of the words of ,god upon ,him ,who is the ,revealer of ,his undoubted proofs1 that ,his ,pen can move no longer4 ,with these words ,he concludeth ,his ,tablet3 8,no ,god is there but ,me1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,most ,excellent1 the ,all-,knowing40 ,,xv3 ,,the ,,pen ,,of ,,revelation ,,exclaimeth3 8,,on ,,this444 ,the ,pen of ,revelation exclaimeth3 8,on this ,day the ,kingdom is ,god's60 ,the ,tongue of ,power is calling3 8,on this ,day all sovereignty is1 in very deed1 with ,god60 ,the ,phoenix of the realms above crieth out from the immortal ,branch3 8,the glory of all greatness belongeth to ,god1 the ,incomparable1 the ,all-,compelling60 ,the ,mystic ,dove proclaimeth from its blissful bower1 in the everlasting ,paradise3 8,the source of all bounty is derived1 in this ,day1 from ,god1 the ,one1 the ,forgiving60 ,the ,bird of the ,throne warbleth its melody in its retreats of holiness3 8,supreme ascendancy is to be attributed1 this ,day1 to none except ,god1 ,him ,who hath no peer nor equal1 ,who is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,all-,subduing60 ,the inmost essence of all things voiceth in all things the testimony3 8,all forgiveness floweth1 in this ,day1 from ,god1 ,him to ,whom none can compare1 with ,whom no partners can be joined1 the ,sovereign ,protector of all men1 and the ,concealer of their sins60 ,the ,quintessence of ,glory hath lifted up its voice above ,my head1 and crieth from such heights as neither pen nor tongue can in any degree describe3 8,god is my witness6 ,he1 the ,ancient of everlasting days is come1 girded with majesty and power4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,highest1 the ,all-,wise1 the ,all-,pervading1 the ,all-,seeing1 the ,all-,informed1 the ,sovereign ,protector1 the ,source of eternal light60 ,o ,my servant1 who hast sought the good-pleasure of ,god and clung to ,his love on the ,day when all except a few who were endued with insight have broken away from ,him6 ,may ,god1 through ,his grace1 recompense thee with a generous1 an incorruptible and everlasting reward1 inasmuch as thou hast sought ,him on the ,day when eyes were blinded4 ,know thou that if ,we reveal to thee but a sprinkling of the showers which1 through ,god's decree1 and at the hands of the envious and the malicious1 have rained upon ,us1 thou wouldst weep with a great weeping1 and wouldst bewail day and night ,our plight4 ,oh1 would that a discerning and fair-minded soul could be found who would recognize the wonders of this ,revelation--wonders that proclaim the sovereignty of ,god and the greatness of its power4 ,would that such a man might arise and1 wholly for the sake of ,god1 admonish1 privately and openly1 the people1 that haply they may bestir themselves and aid this wronged ,one ,whom the workers of iniquity have so sorely afflicted4 ,methinks that ,i hear the ,voice of the ,holy ,spirit calling from behind ,me saying3 ,vary ,thou ,thy theme1 and alter ,thy tone1 lest the heart of him who hath fixed his gaze upon ,thy face be saddened4 ,say3 ,i have through the grace of ,god and ,his might besought the help of no one in the past1 neither will ,i seek the help of any one in the future4 ,he it is ,who aided ,me1 through the power of truth1 during the days of ,my banishment in #8,irq4 ,he it is ,who overshadowed ,me with ,his protection at a time when the kindreds of the earth were contending with ,me4 ,he it is ,who enabled ,me to depart out of the city1 clothed with such majesty as none1 except the denier and the malicious1 can fail to admit4 ,say3 ,my army is ,my reliance on ,god2 ,my people1 the force of ,my confidence in ,him4 ,my love is ,my standard1 and ,my companion the remembrance of ,god1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,unconditioned4 ,arise1 ,o wayfarer in the path of the ,love of ,god1 and aid thou ,his ,cause4 ,say3 ,barter not away this ,youth1 ,o people1 for the vanities of this world or the delights of heaven4 ,by the righteousness of the one true ,god6 ,one hair of ,him excelleth all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,beware1 ,o men1 lest ye be tempted to part with ,him in exchange for the gold and silver ye possess4 ,let ,his love be a storehouse of treasure for your souls1 on the ,day when naught else but ,him shall profit you1 the ,day when every pillar shall tremble1 when the very skins of men shall creep1 when all eyes shall stare up with terror4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,fear ye ,god1 and turn not away disdainfully from ,his ,revelation4 ,fall prostrate on your faces before ,god1 and celebrate ,his praise in the daytime and in the night season4 ,let thy soul glow with the flame of this undying ,fire that burneth in the midmost heart of the world1 in such wise that the waters of the universe shall be powerless to cool down its ardor4 ,make1 then1 mention of thy ,lord1 that haply the heedless among ,our servants may be admonished through thy words1 and the hearts of the righteous be gladdened4 ,,xvi3 ,,say3 ,o ,,men6 ,,this ,,is ,a ,,matchless ,,day4444 ,say3 ,o men6 ,this is a matchless ,day4 ,matchless must1 likewise1 be the tongue that celebrateth the praise of the ,desire of all nations1 and matchless the deed that aspireth to be acceptable in ,his sight4 ,the whole human race hath longed for this ,day1 that perchance it may fulfil that which well beseemeth its station1 and is worthy of its destiny4 ,blessed is the man whom the affairs of the world have failed to deter from recognizing ,him ,who is the ,lord of all things4 ,so blind hath become the human heart that neither the disruption of the city1 nor the reduction of the mountain in dust1 nor even the cleaving of the earth1 can shake off its torpor4 ,the allusions made in the ,scriptures have been unfolded1 and the signs recorded therein have been revealed1 and the prophetic cry is continually being raised4 ,and yet all1 except such as ,god was pleased to guide1 are bewildered in the drunkenness of their heedlessness6 ,witness how the world is being afflicted with a fresh calamity every day4 ,its tribulation is continually deepening4 ,from the moment the ,sriy-i-,ra's 7,tablet to ,ra's7 was revealed until the present day1 neither hath the world been tranquillized1 nor have the hearts of its peoples been at rest4 ,at one time it hath been agitated by contentions and disputes1 at another it hath been convulsed by wars1 and fallen a victim to inveterate diseases4 ,its sickness is approaching the stage of utter hopelessness1 inasmuch as the true ,physician is debarred from administering the remedy1 whilst unskilled practitioners are regarded with favor1 and are accorded full freedom to act4 444,the dust of sedition hath clouded the hearts of men1 and blinded their eyes4 ,erelong1 they will perceive the consequences of what their hands have wrought in the ,day of ,god4 ,thus warneth you ,he ,who is the ,all-,informed1 as bidden by ,one ,who is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty4 ,,xvii3 ,,by ,,him ,,who ,,is ,,the ,,great ,,announcement6444 ,by ,him ,who is the ,great ,announcement6 ,the ,all-,merciful is come invested with undoubted sovereignty4 ,the ,balance hath been appointed1 and all them that dwell on earth have been gathered together4 ,the ,trumpet hath been blown1 and lo1 all eyes have stared up with terror1 and the hearts of all who are in the heavens and on the earth have trembled1 except them whom the breath of the verses of ,god hath quickened1 and who have detached themselves from all things4 ,this is the ,day whereon the earth shall tell out her tidings4 ,the workers of iniquity are her burdens1 could ye but perceive it4 ,the moon of idle fancy hath been cleft1 and the heaven hath given out a palpable smoke4 ,we see the people laid low1 awed with the dread of thy ,lord1 the ,almighty1 the ,most ,powerful4 ,the ,crier hath cried out1 and men have been torn away1 so great hath been the fury of ,his wrath4 ,the people of the left hand sigh and bemoan4 ,the people of the right abide in noble habitations3 they quaff the ,wine that is life indeed1 from the hands of the ,all-,merciful1 and are1 verily1 the blissful4 ,the earth hath been shaken1 and the mountains have passed away1 and the angels have appeared1 rank on rank1 before ,us4 ,most of the people are bewildered in their drunkenness and wear on their faces the evidences of anger4 ,thus have ,we gathered together the workers of iniquity4 ,we see them rushing on towards their idol4 ,say3 ,none shall be secure this ,day from the decree of ,god4 ,this indeed is a grievous ,day4 ,we point out to them those that led them astray4 ,they see them1 and yet recognize them not4 ,their eyes are drunken2 they are indeed a blind people4 ,their proofs are the calumnies they uttered2 condemned are their calumnies by ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,the ,evil ,one hath stirred up mischief in their hearts1 and they are afflicted with a torment that none can avert4 ,they hasten to the wicked1 bearing the register of the workers of iniquity4 ,such are their doings4 ,say3 ,the heavens have been folded together1 and the earth is held within ,his grasp1 and the corrupt doers have been held by their forelock1 and still they understand not4 ,they drink of the tainted water1 and know it not4 ,say3 ,the shout hath been raised1 and the people have come forth from their graves1 and arising1 are gazing around them4 ,some have made haste to attain the court of the ,god of ,mercy1 others have fallen down on their faces in the fire of ,hell1 while still others are lost in bewilderment4 ,the verses of ,god have been revealed1 and yet they have turned away from them4 ,his proof hath been manifested1 and yet they are unaware of it4 ,and when they behold the face of the ,all-,merciful1 their own faces are saddened1 while they are disporting themselves4 ,they hasten forward to ,hell ,fire1 and mistake it for light4 ,far from ,god be what they fondly imagine6 ,say3 ,whether ye rejoice or whether ye burst for fury1 the heavens are cleft asunder1 and ,god hath come down1 invested with radiant sovereignty4 ,all created things are heard exclaiming3 8,the ,kingdom is ,god's1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise40 ,know thou1 moreover1 that ,we have been cast into an afflictive ,prison1 and are encompassed with the hosts of tyranny1 as a result of what the hands of the infidels have wrought4 ,such is the gladness1 however1 which the ,youth hath tasted that no earthly joy can compare unto it4 ,by ,god6 ,the harm ,he suffereth at the hands of the oppressor can never grieve ,his heart1 nor can ,he be saddened by the ascendancy of such as have repudiated ,his truth4 ,say3 ,tribulation is a horizon unto ,my ,revelation4 ,the day star of grace shineth above it1 and sheddeth a light which neither the clouds of men's idle fancy nor the vain imaginations of the aggressor can obscure4 ,follow thou the footsteps of thy ,lord1 and remember ,his servants even as ,he doth remember thee1 undeterred by either the clamor of the heedless ones or the sword of the enemy4444 ,spread abroad the sweet savors of thy ,lord1 and hesitate not1 though it be for less than a moment1 in the service of ,his ,cause4 ,the day is approaching when the victory of thy ,lord1 the ,ever-,forgiving1 the ,most ,bountiful1 will be proclaimed4 ,,xviii3 ,,say3 ,,we ,,have ,,caused ,,the ,,rivers ,,of ,,divine444 ,say3 ,we have caused the rivers of ,divine utterance to proceed out of ,our throne1 that the tender herbs of wisdom and understanding may spring forth from the soil of your hearts4 ,will ye not be thankful8 ,they who disdain to worship their ,lord shall be of those who are cast off4 ,and oft as ,our verses are rehearsed unto them1 they persist in proud disdain1 and in their gross violation of ,his law1 and know it not4 ,as for them who have disbelieved in ,him1 they shall be in the shadow of a black smoke4 8,the ,hour0 hath come upon them1 while they are disporting themselves4 ,they have been seized by their forelock1 and yet know it not4 ,the thing that must come hath come suddenly2 behold how they flee from it6 ,the inevitable hath come to pass2 witness how they have cast it behind their backs6 ,this is the ,day whereon every man will fly from himself1 how much more from his kindred1 could ye but perceive it4 ,say3 ,by ,god6 ,the blast hath been blown on the trumpet1 and lo1 mankind hath swooned away before us6 ,the ,herald hath cried out1 and the ,summoner raised ,his voice saying3 8,the ,kingdom is ,god's1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting40 ,this is the ,day on which all eyes shall stare up with terror1 the ,day in which the hearts of them that dwell on earth shall tremble1 save them whom thy ,lord1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise1 pleaseth to deliver4 ,all faces have turned black except those to whom the ,god of ,mercy hath vouchsafed a radiant heart4 ,drunken are the eyes of those men that have openly refused to behold the face of ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,say3 ,perused ye not the ,qur'n8 ,read it1 that haply ye may find the ,truth1 for this ,book is verily the ,straight ,path4 ,this is the ,way of ,god unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,if ye have been careless of the ,qur'n1 the ,bayn cannot be regarded to be remote from you4 ,behold it open before your eyes4 ,read ye its verses1 that perchance ye desist from committing that which will cause the ,messengers of ,god to mourn and lament4 ,speed out of your sepulchers4 ,how long will ye sleep8 ,the second blast hath been blown on the trumpet4 ,on whom are ye gazing8 ,this is your ,lord1 the ,god of ,mercy4 ,witness how ye gainsay ,his signs6 ,the earth hath quaked with a great quaking1 and cast forth her burdens4 ,will ye not admit it8 ,say3 ,will ye not recognize how the mountains have become like flocks of wool1 how the people are sore vexed at the awful majesty of the ,cause of ,god8 ,witness how their houses are empty ruins1 and they themselves a drowned host4 ,this is the ,day whereon the ,all-,merciful hath come down in the clouds of knowledge1 clothed with manifest sovereignty4 ,he well knoweth the actions of men4 ,he it is ,whose glory none can mistake1 could ye but comprehend it4 ,the heaven of every religion hath been rent1 and the earth of human understanding been cleft asunder1 and the angels of ,god are seen descending4 ,say3 ,this is the ,day of mutual deceit2 whither do ye flee8 ,the mountains have passed away1 and the heavens have been folded together1 and the whole earth is held within ,his grasp1 could ye but understand it4 ,who is it that can protect you8 ,none1 by ,him ,who is the ,all-,merciful6 ,none1 except ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,beneficent4 ,every woman that hath had a burden in her womb hath cast her burden4 ,we see men drunken in this ,day1 the ,day in which men and angels have been gathered together4 ,say3 ,is there any doubt concerning ,god8 ,behold how ,he hath come down from the heaven of ,his grace1 girded with power and invested with sovereignty4 ,is there any doubt concerning ,his signs8 ,open ye your eyes1 and consider ,his clear evidence4 ,paradise is on your right hand1 and hath been brought nigh unto you1 while ,hell hath been made to blaze4 ,witness its devouring flame4 ,haste ye to enter into ,paradise1 as a token of ,our mercy unto you1 and drink ye from the hands of the ,all-,merciful the ,wine that is life indeed4 ,drink with healthy relish1 ,o people of ,bah4 ,ye are indeed they with whom it shall be well4 ,this is what they who have near access to ,god have attained4 ,this is the flowing water ye were promised in the ,qur'n1 and later in the ,bayn1 as a recompense from your ,lord1 the ,god of ,mercy4 ,blessed are they that quaff it4 ,o ,my servant that hath turned thy face towards ,me6 ,render thanks unto ,god for having sent down unto thee this ,tablet in this ,prison1 that thou mayest remind the people of the days of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,thus have ,we established for thee1 through the waters of ,our wisdom and utterance1 the foundations of thy belief4 ,this1 verily1 is the water whereon the ,throne of thy ,lord hath been raised4 8,his ,throne had stood upon the waters40 ,ponder this in thine heart1 that thou mayest comprehend its meaning4 ,say3 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,xix3 ,,to ,,every ,,discerning ,,and ,,illuminated ,,heart ,,it444 ,to every discerning and illuminated heart it is evident that ,god1 the unknowable ,essence1 the ,divine ,being1 is immensely exalted beyond every human attribute1 such as corporeal existence1 ascent and descent1 egress and regress4 ,far be it from ,his glory that human tongue should adequately recount ,his praise1 or that human heart comprehend ,his fathomless mystery4 ,he is1 and hath ever been1 veiled in the ancient eternity of ,his ,essence1 and will remain in ,his ,reality everlastingly hidden from the sight of men4 8,no vision taketh in ,him1 but ,he taketh in all vision2 ,he is the ,subtile1 the ,all-,perceiving40444 ,the door of the knowledge of the ,ancient of ,days being thus closed in the face of all beings1 the ,source of infinite grace1 according to ,his saying1 8,his grace hath transcended all things2 ,my grace hath encompassed them all10 hath caused those luminous ,gems of ,holiness to appear out of the realm of the spirit1 in the noble form of the human temple1 and be made manifest unto all men1 that they may impart unto the world the mysteries of the unchangeable ,being1 and tell of the subtleties of ,his imperishable ,essence4 ,these sanctified ,mirrors1 these ,day ,springs of ancient glory1 are1 one and all1 the ,exponents on earth of ,him ,who is the central ,orb of the universe1 its ,essence and ultimate ,purpose4 ,from ,him proceed their knowledge and power2 from ,him is derived their sovereignty4 ,the beauty of their countenance is but a reflection of ,his image1 and their revelation a sign of ,his deathless glory4 ,they are the ,treasuries of ,divine knowledge1 and the ,repositories of celestial wisdom4 ,through them is transmitted a grace that is infinite1 and by them is revealed the ,light that can never fade4444 ,these ,tabernacles of ,holiness1 these ,primal ,mirrors which reflect the light of unfading glory1 are but expressions of ,him ,who is the ,invisible of the ,invisibles4 ,by the revelation of these ,gems of ,divine virtue all the names and attributes of ,god1 such as knowledge and power1 sovereignty and dominion1 mercy and wisdom1 glory1 bounty1 and grace1 are made manifest4 ,these attributes of ,god are not1 and have never been1 vouchsafed specially unto certain ,prophets1 and withheld from others4 ,nay1 all the ,prophets of ,god1 ,his well-favored1 ,his holy and chosen ,messengers are1 without exception1 the bearers of ,his names1 and the embodiments of ,his attributes4 ,they only differ in the intensity of their revelation1 and the comparative potency of their light4 ,even as ,he hath revealed3 8,some of the ,apostles ,we have caused to excel the others40 ,it hath1 therefore1 become manifest and evident that within the tabernacles of these ,prophets and chosen ,ones of ,god the light of ,his infinite names and exalted attributes hath been reflected1 even though the light of some of these attributes may or may not be outwardly revealed from these luminous ,temples to the eyes of men4 ,that a certain attribute of ,god hath not been outwardly manifested by these ,essences of ,detachment doth in no wise imply that they who are the ,day ,springs of ,god's attributes and the ,treasuries of ,his holy names did not actually possess it4 ,therefore1 these illuminated ,souls1 these beauteous ,countenances have1 each and every one of them1 been endowed with all the attributes of ,god1 such as sovereignty1 dominion1 and the like1 even though to outward seeming they be shorn of all earthly majesty4444 ,,xx3 ,,know ,,thou ,,of ,a ,,certainty ,,that ,,the ,,unseen444 ,know thou of a certainty that the ,unseen can in no wise incarnate ,his ,essence and reveal it unto men4 ,he is1 and hath ever been1 immensely exalted beyond all that can either be recounted or perceived4 ,from ,his retreat of glory ,his voice is ever proclaiming3 8,verily1 ,i am ,god2 there is none other ,god besides ,me1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,i have manifested ,myself unto men1 and have sent down ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of the signs of ,my ,revelation4 ,through ,him ,i have caused all creation to testify that there is none other ,god except ,him1 the ,incomparable1 the ,all-,informed1 the ,all-,wise40 ,he ,who is everlastingly hidden from the eyes of men can never be known except through ,his ,manifestation1 and ,his ,manifestation can adduce no greater proof of the truth of ,his ,mission than the proof of ,his own ,person4 ,,xxi3 ,o ,,salm,n6 ,,the ,,door ,,of ,,the ,,knowledge ,,of444 ,o ,salmn6 ,the door of the knowledge of the ,ancient ,being hath ever been1 and will continue for ever to be1 closed in the face of men4 ,no man's understanding shall ever gain access unto ,his holy court4 ,as a token of ,his mercy1 however1 and as a proof of ,his loving-kindness1 ,he hath manifested unto men the ,day ,stars of ,his divine guidance1 the ,symbols of ,his divine unity1 and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified ,beings to be identical with the knowledge of ,his own ,self4 ,whoso recognizeth them hath recognized ,god4 ,whoso hearkeneth to their call1 hath hearkened to the ,voice of ,god1 and whoso testifieth to the truth of their ,revelation1 hath testified to the truth of ,god ,himself4 ,whoso turneth away from them1 hath turned away from ,god1 and whoso disbelieveth in them1 hath disbelieved in ,god4 ,every one of them is the ,way of ,god that connecteth this world with the realms above1 and the ,standard of ,his ,truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven4 ,they are the ,manifestations of ,god amidst men1 the evidences of ,his ,truth1 and the signs of ,his glory4 ,,xxii3 ,,the ,,bearers ,,of ,,the ,,trust ,,of ,,god ,,are ,,made444 ,the ,bearers of the ,trust of ,god are made manifest unto the peoples of the earth as the ,exponents of a new ,cause and the ,revealers of a new ,message4 ,inasmuch as these ,birds of the celestial ,throne are all sent down from the heaven of the ,will of ,god1 and as they all arise to proclaim ,his irresistible ,faith1 they1 therefore1 are regarded as one soul and the same person4 ,for they all drink from the one ,cup of the love of ,god1 and all partake of the fruit of the same ,tree of ,oneness4 ,these ,manifestations of ,god have each a twofold station4 ,one is the station of pure abstraction and essential unity4 ,in this respect1 if thou callest them all by one name1 and dost ascribe to them the same attributes1 thou hast not erred from the truth4 ,even as ,he hath revealed3 8,no distinction do ,we make between any of ,his ,messengers40 ,for they1 one and all1 summon the people of the earth to acknowledge the unity of ,god1 and herald unto them the ,kawthar of an infinite grace and bounty4 ,they are all invested with the robe of prophethood1 and are honored with the mantle of glory4 ,thus hath ,muammad1 the ,point of the ,qur'n1 revealed3 8,i am all the ,prophets40 ,likewise1 ,he saith3 8,i am the first ,adam1 ,noah1 ,moses1 and ,jesus40 ,similar statements have been made by ,imm #8,al4 ,sayings such as these1 which indicate the essential unity of those ,exponents of ,oneness1 have also emanated from the ,channels of ,god's immortal utterance1 and the ,treasuries of the gems of ,divine knowledge1 and have been recorded in the ,scriptures4 ,these ,countenances are the recipients of the ,divine ,command1 and the ,day ,springs of ,his ,revelation4 ,this ,revelation is exalted above the veils of plurality and the exigencies of number4 ,thus ,he saith3 8,our ,cause is but ,one40 ,inasmuch as the ,cause is one and the same1 the ,exponents thereof also must needs be one and the same4 ,likewise1 the ,imms of the ,muammadan ,faith1 those lamps of certitude1 have said3 8,muammad is our first1 ,muammad is our last1 ,muammad our all40 ,it is clear and evident to thee that all the ,prophets are the ,temples of the ,cause of ,god1 ,who have appeared clothed in divers attire4 ,if thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes1 thou wilt behold ,them all abiding in the same tabernacle1 soaring in the same heaven1 seated upon the same throne1 uttering the same speech1 and proclaiming the same ,faith4 ,such is the unity of those ,essences of ,being1 those ,luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendor6 ,wherefore1 should one of these ,manifestations of ,holiness proclaim saying3 8,i am the return of all the ,prophets10 ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth4 ,in like manner1 in every subsequent ,revelation1 the return of the former ,revelation is a fact1 the truth of which is firmly established4444 ,the other station is the station of distinction1 and pertaineth to the world of creation1 and to the limitations thereof4 ,in this respect1 each ,manifestation of ,god hath a distinct individuality1 a definitely prescribed mission1 a predestined revelation1 and specially designated limitations4 ,each one of them is known by a different name1 is characterized by a special attribute1 fulfils a definite mission1 and is entrusted with a particular ,revelation4 ,even as ,he saith3 8,some of the ,apostles ,we have caused to excel the others4 ,to some ,god hath spoken1 some ,he hath raised and exalted4 ,and to ,jesus1 ,son of ,mary1 ,we gave manifest signs1 and ,we strengthened ,him with the ,holy ,spirit40 ,it is because of this difference in their station and mission that the words and utterances flowing from these ,well ,springs of ,divine knowledge appear to diverge and differ4 ,otherwise1 in the eyes of them that are initiated into the mysteries of ,divine wisdom1 all their utterances are1 in reality1 but the expressions of one ,truth4 ,as most of the people have failed to appreciate those stations to which ,we have referred1 they1 therefore1 feel perplexed and dismayed at the varying utterances pronounced by ,manifestations that are essentially one and the same4 ,it hath ever been evident that all these divergencies of utterance are attributable to differences of station4 ,thus1 viewed from the standpoint of their oneness and sublime detachment1 the attributes of ,godhead1 ,divinity1 ,supreme ,singleness1 and ,inmost ,essence1 have been1 and are applicable to those ,essences of ,being1 inasmuch as they all abide on the throne of ,divine ,revelation1 and are established upon the seat of ,divine ,concealment4 ,through their appearance the ,revelation of ,god is made manifest1 and by their countenance the ,beauty of ,god is revealed4 ,thus it is that the accents of ,god ,himself have been heard uttered by these ,manifestations of the ,divine ,being4 ,viewed in the light of their second station--the station of distinction1 differentiation1 temporal limitations1 characteristics and standards--they manifest absolute servitude1 utter destitution1 and complete self-effacement4 ,even as ,he saith3 8,i am the servant of ,god4 ,i am but a man like you40444 ,were any of the all-embracing ,manifestations of ,god to declare3 8,i am ,god10 ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth1 and no doubt attacheth thereto4 ,for it hath been repeatedly demonstrated that through their ,revelation1 their attributes and names1 the ,revelation of ,god1 ,his names and ,his attributes1 are made manifest in the world4 ,thus1 ,he hath revealed3 8,those shafts were ,god's1 not ,thine40 ,and also ,he saith3 8,in truth1 they who plighted fealty unto ,thee1 really plighted that fealty unto ,god40 ,and were any of them to voice the utterance1 8,i am the ,messenger of ,god10 ,he1 also1 speaketh the truth1 the indubitable truth4 ,even as ,he saith3 8,muammad is not the father of any man among you1 but ,he is the ,messenger of ,god40 ,viewed in this light1 they are all but ,messengers of that ideal ,king1 that unchangeable ,essence4 ,and were they all to proclaim1 8,i am the ,seal of the ,prophets10 they1 verily1 utter but the truth1 beyond the faintest shadow of doubt4 ,for they are all but one person1 one soul1 one spirit1 one being1 one revelation4 ,they are all the manifestation of the 8,beginning0 and the 8,end10 the 8,first0 and the 8,last10 the 8,seen0 and the 8,hidden0--all of which pertain to ,him ,who is the ,innermost ,spirit of ,spirits and ,eternal ,essence of ,essences4 ,and were they to say1 8,we are the ,servants of ,god10 this also is a manifest and indisputable fact4 ,for they have been made manifest in the uttermost state of servitude1 a servitude the like of which no man can possibly attain4 ,thus in moments in which these ,essences of ,being were deep immersed beneath the oceans of ancient and everlasting holiness1 or when they soared to the loftiest summits of ,divine mysteries1 they claimed their utterances to be the ,voice of ,divinity1 the ,call of ,god ,himself4 ,were the eye of discernment to be opened1 it would recognize that in this very state1 they have considered themselves utterly effaced and non-existent in the face of ,him ,who is the ,all-,pervading1 the ,incorruptible4 ,methinks1 they have regarded themselves as utter nothingness1 and deemed their mention in that ,court an act of blasphemy4 ,for the slightest whispering of self within such a ,court is an evidence of self-assertion and independent existence4 ,in the eyes of them that have attained unto that ,court1 such a suggestion is itself a grievous transgression4 ,how much more grievous would it be1 were aught else to be mentioned in that ,presence1 were man's heart1 his tongue1 his mind1 or his soul1 to be busied with any one but the ,well-,beloved1 were his eyes to behold any countenance other than ,his beauty1 were his ear to be inclined to any melody but ,his ,voice1 and were his feet to tread any way but ,his way4444 ,by virtue of this station they have claimed for themselves the ,voice of ,divinity and the like1 whilst by virtue of their station of ,messengership1 they have declared themselves the ,messengers of ,god4 ,in every instance they have voiced an utterance that would conform to the requirements of the occasion1 and have ascribed all these declarations to ,themselves1 declarations ranging from the realm of ,divine ,revelation to the realm of creation1 and from the domain of ,divinity even unto the domain of earthly existence4 ,thus it is that whatsoever be their utterance1 whether it pertain to the realm of ,divinity1 ,lordship1 ,prophethood1 ,messengership1 ,guardianship1 ,apostleship1 or ,servitude1 all is true1 beyond the shadow of a doubt4 ,therefore these sayings which ,we have quoted in support of ,our argument must be attentively considered1 that the divergent utterances of the ,manifestations of the ,unseen and ,day ,springs of ,holiness may cease to agitate the soul and perplex the mind4 ,,xxiii3 ,,consider ,,the ,,former ,,generations4 ,,witness444 ,consider the former generations4 ,witness how every time the ,day ,star of ,divine bounty hath shed the light of ,his ,revelation upon the world1 the people of ,his ,day have arisen against ,him1 and repudiated ,his truth4 ,they who were regarded as the leaders of men have invariably striven to hinder their followers from turning unto ,him ,who is the ,ocean of ,god's limitless bounty4 ,behold how the people1 as a result of the verdict pronounced by the divines of ,his age1 have cast ,abraham1 the ,friend of ,god1 into fire2 how ,moses1 ,he ,who held converse with the ,almighty1 was denounced as liar and slanderer4 ,reflect how ,jesus1 the ,spirit of ,god1 was1 notwithstanding ,his extreme meekness and perfect tender-heartedness1 treated by ,his enemies4 ,so fierce was the opposition which ,he1 the ,essence of ,being and ,lord of the visible and invisible1 had to face1 that ,he had nowhere to lay ,his head4 ,he wandered continually from place to place1 deprived of a permanent abode4 ,ponder that which befell ,muammad1 the ,seal of the ,prophets1 may the life of all else be a sacrifice unto ,him4 ,how severe the afflictions which the leaders of the ,jewish people and of the idol-worshipers caused to rain upon ,him1 ,who is the sovereign ,lord of all1 in consequence of ,his proclamation of the unity of ,god and of the truth of ,his ,message6 ,by the righteousness of ,my ,cause6 ,my ,pen groaneth1 and all created things weep with a great weeping1 as a result of the woes ,he suffered at the hands of them that have broken the ,covenant of ,god1 violated ,his ,testament1 rejected ,his proofs1 and disputed ,his signs4 ,thus recount ,we unto thee the tale of that which happened in days past1 haply thou mayest comprehend4 ,thou hast known how grievously the ,prophets of ,god1 ,his ,messengers and ,chosen ,ones1 have been afflicted4 ,meditate a while on the motive and reason which have been responsible for such a persecution4 ,at no time1 in no ,dispensation1 have the ,prophets of ,god escaped the blasphemy of their enemies1 the cruelty of their oppressors1 the denunciation of the learned of their age1 who appeared in the guise of uprightness and piety4 ,day and night they passed through such agonies as none can ever measure1 except the knowledge of the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory4 ,consider this wronged ,one4 ,though the clearest proofs attest the truth of ,his ,cause2 though the prophecies ,he1 in an unmistakable language1 hath made have been fulfilled2 though1 in spite of ,his not being accounted among the learned1 ,his being unschooled and inexperienced in the disputations current among the divines1 ,he hath rained upon men the showers of ,his manifold and ,divinely-inspired knowledge2 yet1 behold how this generation hath rejected ,his authority1 and rebelled against ,him6 ,he hath1 during the greater part of ,his life1 been sore-tried in the clutches of ,his enemies4 ,his sufferings have now reached their culmination in this afflictive ,prison1 into which ,his oppressors have so unjustly thrown ,him4 ,god grant that1 with a penetrating vision and radiant heart1 thou mayest observe the things that have come to pass and are now happening1 and1 pondering them in thine heart1 mayest recognize that which most men have1 in this ,day1 failed to perceive4 ,please ,god1 ,he may enable thee to inhale the sweet fragrance of ,his ,day1 to partake of the limitless effusions of ,his grace1 to quaff thy fill1 through ,his gracious favor1 from the most great ,ocean that surgeth in this ,day in the name of the ,ancient ,king1 and to remain firm and immovable as the mountain in ,his ,cause4 ,say3 ,glory be to ,thee ,who hast caused all the holy ,ones to confess their helplessness before the manifold revelations of ,thy might1 and every ,prophet to acknowledge ,his nothingness at the effulgence of ,thine abiding glory4 ,i beseech ,thee1 by ,thy name that hath unlocked the gates of ,heaven and filled with ecstasy the ,concourse on high1 to enable me to serve ,thee1 in this ,day1 and to strengthen me to observe that which ,thou didst prescribe in ,thy ,book4 ,thou knowest1 ,o my ,lord1 what is in me2 but ,i know not what is in ,thee4 ,thou art the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,informed4 ,,xxiv3 ,,beware1 ,o ,,believers ,,in ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god1444 ,beware1 ,o believers in the ,unity of ,god1 lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the ,manifestations of ,his ,cause1 or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their ,revelation4 ,this indeed is the true meaning of ,divine ,unity1 if ye be of them that apprehend and believe this truth4 ,be ye assured1 moreover1 that the works and acts of each and every one of these ,manifestations of ,god1 nay whatever pertaineth unto them1 and whatsoever they may manifest in the future1 are all ordained by ,god1 and are a reflection of ,his ,will and ,purpose4 ,whoso maketh the slightest possible difference between their persons1 their words1 their messages1 their acts and manners1 hath indeed disbelieved in ,god1 hath repudiated ,his signs1 and betrayed the ,cause of ,his ,messengers4 ,,xxv3 ,,it ,,is ,,evident ,,that ,,every ,,age ,,in ,,which ,a ,,manifestation444 ,it is evident that every age in which a ,manifestation of ,god hath lived is divinely ordained1 and may1 in a sense1 be characterized as ,god's appointed ,day4 ,this ,day1 however1 is unique1 and is to be distinguished from those that have preceded it4 ,the designation 8,seal of the ,prophets0 fully revealeth its high station4 ,the ,prophetic ,cycle hath1 verily1 ended4 ,the ,eternal ,truth is now come4 ,he hath lifted up the ,ensign of ,power1 and is now shedding upon the world the unclouded splendor of ,his ,revelation4 ,,xxvi3 ,,praise ,,be ,,to ,,god1 ,,the ,,all-,,possessing1 ,,the444 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,king of incomparable glory1 a praise which is immeasurably above the understanding of all created things1 and is exalted beyond the grasp of the minds of men4 ,none else besides ,him hath ever been able to sing adequately ,his praise1 nor will any man succeed at any time in describing the full measure of ,his glory4 ,who is it that can claim to have attained the heights of ,his exalted ,essence1 and what mind can measure the depths of ,his unfathomable mystery8 ,from each and every revelation emanating from the ,source of ,his glory1 holy and never-ending evidences of unimaginable splendor have appeared1 and out of every manifestation of ,his invincible power oceans of eternal light have outpoured4 ,how immensely exalted are the wondrous testimonies of ,his almighty sovereignty1 a glimmer of which1 if it but touched them1 would utterly consume all that are in the heavens and in the earth6 ,how indescribably lofty are the tokens of ,his consummate power1 a single sign of which1 however inconsiderable1 must transcend the comprehension of whatsoever hath1 from the beginning that hath no beginning1 been brought into being1 or will be created in the future till the end that hath no end4 ,all the ,embodiments of ,his ,names wander in the wilderness of search1 athirst and eager to discover ,his ,essence1 and all the ,manifestations of ,his ,attributes implore ,him1 from the ,sinai of ,holiness1 to unravel ,his mystery4 ,a drop of the billowing ocean of ,his endless mercy hath adorned all creation with the ornament of existence1 and a breath wafted from ,his peerless ,paradise hath invested all beings with the robe of ,his sanctity and glory4 ,a sprinkling from the unfathomed deep of ,his sovereign and all-pervasive ,will hath1 out of utter nothingness1 called into being a creation which is infinite in its range and deathless in its duration4 ,the wonders of ,his bounty can never cease1 and the stream of ,his merciful grace can never be arrested4 ,the process of ,his creation hath had no beginning1 and can have no end4 ,in every age and cycle ,he hath1 through the splendorous light shed by the ,manifestations of ,his wondrous ,essence1 recreated all things1 so that whatsoever reflecteth in the heavens and on the earth the signs of ,his glory may not be deprived of the outpourings of ,his mercy1 nor despair of the showers of ,his favors4 ,how all-encompassing are the wonders of ,his boundless grace6 ,behold how they have pervaded the whole of creation4 ,such is their virtue that not a single atom in the entire universe can be found which doth not declare the evidences of ,his might1 which doth not glorify ,his holy ,name1 or is not expressive of the effulgent light of ,his unity4 ,so perfect and comprehensive is ,his creation that no mind nor heart1 however keen or pure1 can ever grasp the nature of the most insignificant of ,his creatures2 much less fathom the mystery of ,him ,who is the ,day ,star of ,truth1 ,who is the invisible and unknowable ,essence4 ,the conceptions of the devoutest of mystics1 the attainments of the most accomplished amongst men1 the highest praise which human tongue or pen can render are all the product of man's finite mind and are conditioned by its limitations4 ,ten thousand ,prophets1 each a ,moses1 are thunderstruck upon the ,sinai of their search at ,his forbidding voice1 8,thou shalt never behold ,me602 whilst a myriad ,messengers1 each as great as ,jesus1 stand dismayed upon their heavenly thrones by the interdiction1 8,mine ,essence thou shalt never apprehend60 ,from time immemorial ,he hath been veiled in the ineffable sanctity of ,his exalted ,self1 and will everlastingly continue to be wrapt in the impenetrable mystery of ,his unknowable ,essence4 ,every attempt to attain to an understanding of ,his inaccessible ,reality hath ended in complete bewilderment1 and every effort to approach ,his exalted ,self and envisage ,his ,essence hath resulted in hopelessness and failure4 ,how bewildering to me1 insignificant as ,i am1 is the attempt to fathom the sacred depths of ,thy knowledge6 ,how futile my efforts to visualize the magnitude of the power inherent in ,thine handiwork--the revelation of ,thy creative power6 ,how can mine eye1 which hath no faculty to perceive itself1 claim to have discerned ,thine ,essence1 and how can mine heart1 already powerless to apprehend the significance of its own potentialities1 pretend to have comprehended ,thy nature8 ,how can ,i claim to have known ,thee1 when the entire creation is bewildered by ,thy mystery1 and how can ,i confess not to have known ,thee1 when1 lo1 the whole universe proclaimeth ,thy ,presence and testifieth to ,thy truth8 ,the portals of ,thy grace have throughout eternity been open1 and the means of access unto ,thy ,presence made available1 unto all created things1 and the revelations of ,thy matchless ,beauty have at all times been imprinted upon the realities of all beings1 visible and invisible4 ,yet1 notwithstanding this most gracious favor1 this perfect and consummate bestowal1 ,i am moved to testify that ,thy court of holiness and glory is immeasurably exalted above the knowledge of all else besides ,thee1 and the mystery of ,thy ,presence is inscrutable to every mind except ,thine own4 ,no one except ,thyself can unravel the secret of ,thy nature1 and naught else but ,thy transcendental ,essence can grasp the reality of ,thy unsearchable being4 ,how vast the number of those heavenly and all-glorious beings who1 in the wilderness of their separation from ,thee1 have wandered all the days of their lives1 and failed in the end to find ,thee6 ,how great the multitude of the sanctified and immortal souls who were lost and bewildered while seeking in the desert of search to behold ,thy face6 ,myriad are ,thine ardent lovers whom the consuming flame of remoteness from ,thee hath caused to sink and perish1 and numberless are the faithful souls who have willingly laid down their lives in the hope of gazing on the light of ,thy countenance4 ,the sighs and moans of these longing hearts that pant after ,thee can never reach ,thy holy court1 neither can the lamentations of the wayfarers that thirst to appear before ,thy face attain ,thy seat of glory4 ,,xxvii3 ,,all ,,praise ,,to ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,god1 ,,and ,,all444 ,all praise to the unity of ,god1 and all honor to ,him1 the sovereign ,lord1 the incomparable and all-glorious ,ruler of the universe1 ,who1 out of utter nothingness1 hath created the reality of all things1 ,who1 from naught1 hath brought into being the most refined and subtle elements of ,his creation1 and ,who1 rescuing ,his creatures from the abasement of remoteness and the perils of ultimate extinction1 hath received them into ,his kingdom of incorruptible glory4 ,nothing short of ,his all-encompassing grace1 ,his all-pervading mercy1 could have possibly achieved it4 ,how could it1 otherwise1 have been possible for sheer nothingness to have acquired by itself the worthiness and capacity to emerge from its state of non-existence into the realm of being8 ,having created the world and all that liveth and moveth therein1 ,he1 through the direct operation of ,his unconstrained and sovereign ,will1 chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know ,him and to love ,him--a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation4444 ,upon the inmost reality of each and every created thing ,he hath shed the light of one of ,his names1 and made it a recipient of the glory of one of ,his attributes4 ,upon the reality of man1 however1 ,he hath focused the radiance of all of ,his names and attributes1 and made it a mirror of ,his own ,self4 ,alone of all created things man hath been singled out for so great a favor1 so enduring a bounty4 ,these energies with which the ,day ,star of ,divine bounty and ,source of heavenly guidance hath endowed the reality of man lie1 however1 latent within him1 even as the flame is hidden within the candle and the rays of light are potentially present in the lamp4 ,the radiance of these energies may be obscured by worldly desires even as the light of the sun can be concealed beneath the dust and dross which cover the mirror4 ,neither the candle nor the lamp can be lighted through their own unaided efforts1 nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to free itself from its dross4 ,it is clear and evident that until a fire is kindled the lamp will never be ignited1 and unless the dross is blotted out from the face of the mirror it can never represent the image of the sun nor reflect its light and glory4 ,and since there can be no tie of direct intercourse to bind the one true ,god with ,his creation1 and no resemblance whatever can exist between the transient and the ,eternal1 the contingent and the ,absolute1 ,he hath ordained that in every age and dispensation a pure and stainless ,soul be made manifest in the kingdoms of earth and heaven4 ,unto this subtle1 this mysterious and ethereal ,being ,he hath assigned a twofold nature2 the physical1 pertaining to the world of matter1 and the spiritual1 which is born of the substance of ,god ,himself4 ,he hath1 moreover1 conferred upon ,him a double station4 ,the first station1 which is related to ,his innermost reality1 representeth ,him as ,one ,whose voice is the voice of ,god ,himself4 ,to this testifieth the tradition3 8,manifold and mysterious is ,my relationship with ,god4 ,i am ,he1 ,himself1 and ,he is ,i1 ,myself1 except that ,i am that ,i am1 and ,he is that ,he is40 ,and in like manner1 the words3 8,arise1 ,o ,muammad1 for lo1 the ,lover and the ,beloved are joined together and made one in ,thee40 ,he similarly saith3 8,there is no distinction whatsoever between ,thee and ,them1 except that ,they are ,thy ,servants40 ,the second station is the human station1 exemplified by the following verses3 8,i am but a man like you40 8,say1 praise be to my ,lord6 ,am ,i more than a man1 an apostle80 ,these ,essences of ,detachment1 these resplendent ,realities are the channels of ,god's all-pervasive grace4 ,led by the light of unfailing guidance1 and invested with supreme sovereignty1 ,they are commissioned to use the inspiration of ,their words1 the effusions of ,their infallible grace and the sanctifying breeze of ,their ,revelation for the cleansing of every longing heart and receptive spirit from the dross and dust of earthly cares and limitations4 ,then1 and only then1 will the ,trust of ,god1 latent in the reality of man1 emerge1 as resplendent as the rising ,orb of ,divine ,revelation1 from behind the veil of concealment1 and implant the ensign of its revealed glory upon the summits of men's hearts4 ,from the foregoing passages and allusions it hath been made indubitably clear that in the kingdoms of earth and heaven there must needs be manifested a ,being1 an ,essence ,who shall act as a ,manifestation and ,vehicle for the transmission of the grace of the ,divinity ,itself1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all4 ,through the ,teachings of this ,day ,star of ,truth every man will advance and develop until he attaineth the station at which he can manifest all the potential forces with which his inmost true self hath been endowed4 ,it is for this very purpose that in every age and dispensation the ,prophets of ,god and ,his chosen ,ones have appeared amongst men1 and have evinced such power as is born of ,god and such might as only the ,eternal can reveal4 ,can one of sane mind ever seriously imagine that1 in view of certain words the meaning of which he cannot comprehend1 the portal of ,god's infinite guidance can ever be closed in the face of men8 ,can he ever conceive for these ,divine ,luminaries1 these resplendent ,lights either a beginning or an end8 ,what outpouring flood can compare with the stream of ,his all-embracing grace1 and what blessing can excel the evidences of so great and pervasive a mercy8 ,there can be no doubt whatever that if for one moment the tide of ,his mercy and grace were to be withheld from the world1 it would completely perish4 ,for this reason1 from the beginning that hath no beginning the portals of ,divine mercy have been flung open to the face of all created things1 and the clouds of ,truth will continue to the end that hath no end to rain on the soil of human capacity1 reality and personality their favors and bounties4 ,such hath been ,god's method continued from everlasting to everlasting4 ,,xxviii3 ,,happy ,,is ,,the ,,man ,,who ,,will ,,arise ,,to ,,serve444 ,happy is the man who will arise to serve ,my ,cause1 and glorify ,my beauteous ,name4 ,take hold of ,my ,book with the power of ,my might1 and cleave tenaciously to whatsoever commandment thy ,lord1 the ,ordainer1 the ,all-,wise1 hath prescribed therein4 ,behold1 ,o ,muammad1 how the sayings and doings of the followers of ,sh'ih ,islm have dulled the joy and fervor of its early days1 and tarnished the pristine brilliancy of its light4 ,in its primitive days1 whilst they still adhered to the precepts associated with the name of their ,prophet1 the ,lord of mankind1 their career was marked by an unbroken chain of victories and triumphs4 ,as they gradually strayed from the path of their ,ideal ,leader and ,master1 as they turned away from the ,light of ,god and corrupted the principle of ,his ,divine unity1 and as they increasingly centered their attention upon them who were only the revealers of the potency of ,his ,word1 their power was turned into weakness1 their glory into shame1 their courage into fear4 ,thou dost witness to what a pass they have come4 ,behold1 how they have joined partners with ,him ,who is the ,focal-,point of ,divine unity4 ,behold how their evil doings have hindered them from recognizing1 in the ,day of ,resurrection1 the ,word of ,truth1 exalted be ,his glory4 ,we cherish the hope that this people will henceforth shield themselves from vain hopes and idle fancies1 and will attain to a true understanding of the meaning of ,divine unity4 ,the ,person of the ,manifestation hath ever been the representative and mouthpiece of ,god4 ,he1 in truth1 is the ,day ,spring of ,god's most excellent ,titles1 and the ,dawning-,place of ,his exalted ,attributes4 ,if any be set up by ,his side as peers1 if they be regarded as identical with ,his ,person1 how can it1 then1 be maintained that the ,divine ,being is ,one and ,incomparable1 that ,his ,essence is indivisible and peerless8 ,meditate on that which ,we have1 through the power of truth1 revealed unto thee1 and be thou of them that comprehend its meaning4 ,,xxix3 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,god ,,in ,,creating ,,man ,,hath444 ,the purpose of ,god in creating man hath been1 and will ever be1 to enable him to know his ,creator and to attain ,his ,presence4 ,to this most excellent aim1 this supreme objective1 all the heavenly ,books and the divinely-revealed and weighty ,scriptures unequivocally bear witness4 ,whoso hath recognized the ,day ,spring of ,divine guidance and entered ,his holy court hath drawn nigh unto ,god and attained ,his ,presence1 a ,presence which is the real ,paradise1 and of which the loftiest mansions of heaven are but a symbol4 ,such a man hath attained the knowledge of the station of ,him ,who is 8at the distance of two bows10 ,who standeth beyond the ,sadratu'l-,muntah4 ,whoso hath failed to recognize ,him will have condemned himself to the misery of remoteness1 a remoteness which is naught but utter nothingness and the essence of the nethermost fire4 ,such will be his fate1 though to outward seeming he may occupy the earth's loftiest seats and be established upon its most exalted throne4 ,he ,who is the ,day ,spring of ,truth is1 no doubt1 fully capable of rescuing from such remoteness wayward souls and of causing them to draw nigh unto ,his court and attain ,his ,presence4 8,if ,god had pleased ,he had surely made all men one people40 ,his purpose1 however1 is to enable the pure in spirit and the detached in heart to ascend1 by virtue of their own innate powers1 unto the shores of the ,most ,great ,ocean1 that thereby they who seek the ,beauty of the ,all-,glorious may be distinguished and separated from the wayward and perverse4 ,thus hath it been ordained by the all-glorious and resplendent ,pen4444 ,that the ,manifestations of ,divine justice1 the ,day ,springs of heavenly grace1 have when they appeared amongst men always been destitute of all earthly dominion and shorn of the means of worldly ascendancy1 should be attributed to this same principle of separation and distinction which animateth the ,divine ,purpose4 ,were the ,eternal ,essence to manifest all that is latent within ,him1 were ,he to shine in the plentitude of ,his glory1 none would be found to question ,his power or repudiate ,his truth4 ,nay1 all created things would be so dazzled and thunderstruck by the evidences of ,his light as to be reduced to utter nothingness4 ,how1 then1 can the godly be differentiated under such circumstances from the froward8 ,this principle hath operated in each of the previous ,dispensations and been abundantly demonstrated4444 ,it is for this reason that1 in every age1 when a new ,manifestation hath appeared and a fresh revelation of ,god's transcendent power was vouchsafed unto men1 they that misbelieved in ,him1 deluded by the appearance of the peerless and everlasting ,beauty in the garb of mortal men1 have failed to recognize ,him4 ,they have erred from ,his path and eschewed ,his company--the company of ,him ,who is the ,symbol of nearness to ,god4 ,they have even arisen to decimate the ranks of the faithful and to exterminate such as believed in ,him4 ,behold how in this ,dispensation the worthless and foolish have fondly imagined that by such instruments as massacre1 plunder and banishment they can extinguish the ,lamp which the ,hand of ,divine power hath lit1 or eclipse the ,day ,star of everlasting splendor4 ,how utterly unaware they seem to be of the truth that such adversity is the oil that feedeth the flame of this ,lamp6 ,such is ,god's transforming power4 ,he changeth whatsoever ,he willeth2 ,he verily hath power over all things4444 ,consider at all times the sovereignty exercised by the ,ideal ,king1 and behold the evidences of ,his power and paramount influence4 ,sanctify your ears from the idle talk of them that are the symbols of denial and the exponents of violence and anger4 ,the hour is approaching when ye will witness the power of the one true ,god triumphing over all created things and the signs of ,his sovereignty encompassing all creation4 ,on that day ye will discover how all else besides ,him will have been forgotten and come to be regarded as utter nothingness4 ,it should1 however1 be borne in mind that ,god and ,his ,manifestation can1 under no circumstances1 be dissociated from the loftiness and sublimity which ,they inherently possess4 ,nay1 loftiness and sublimity are themselves the creations of ,his ,word1 if ye choose to see with ,my sight not with yours4 ,,xxx3 ,,god ,,witnesseth ,,that ,,there ,,is ,,no ,,god ,,but444 ,god witnesseth that there is no ,god but ,him1 the ,gracious1 the ,best-,beloved4 ,all grace and bounty are ,his4 ,to whomsoever ,he will ,he giveth whatsoever is ,his wish4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,powerful1 the ,almighty1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,we1 verily1 believe in ,him ,who1 in the person of the ,bb1 hath been sent down by the ,will of the one true ,god1 the ,king of ,kings1 the ,all-,praised4 ,we1 moreover1 swear fealty to the ,one ,who1 in the time of ,mustaghth1 is destined to be made manifest1 as well as to those ,who shall come after ,him till the end that hath no end4 ,we recognize in the manifestation of each one of them1 whether outwardly or inwardly1 the manifestation of none but ,god ,himself1 if ye be of those that comprehend4 ,every one of them is a mirror of ,god1 reflecting naught else but ,his ,self1 ,his ,beauty1 ,his ,might and ,glory1 if ye will understand4 ,all else besides them are to be regarded as mirrors capable of reflecting the glory of these ,manifestations ,who are themselves the ,primary ,mirrors of the ,divine ,being1 if ye be not devoid of understanding4 ,no one hath ever escaped them1 neither are they to be hindered from achieving their purpose4 ,these ,mirrors will everlastingly succeed each other1 and will continue to reflect the light of the ,ancient of ,days4 ,they that reflect their glory will1 in like manner1 continue to exist for evermore1 for the ,grace of ,god can never cease from flowing4 ,this is a truth that none can disprove4 ,,xxxi3 ,,contemplate ,,with ,,thine ,,inward ,,eye ,,the444 ,contemplate with thine inward eye the chain of successive ,revelations that hath linked the ,manifestation of ,adam with that of the ,bb4 ,i testify before ,god that each one of these ,manifestations hath been sent down through the operation of the ,divine ,will and ,purpose1 that each hath been the bearer of a specific ,message1 that each hath been entrusted with a divinely-revealed ,book and been commissioned to unravel the mysteries of a mighty ,tablet4 ,the measure of the ,revelation with which every one of them hath been identified had been definitely fore-ordained4 ,this1 verily1 is a token of ,our favor unto them1 if ye be of those that comprehend this truth4444 ,and when this process of progressive ,revelation culminated in the stage at which ,his peerless1 ,his most sacred1 and exalted ,countenance was to be unveiled to men's eyes1 ,he chose to hide ,his own ,self behind a thousand veils1 lest profane and mortal eyes discover ,his glory4 ,this ,he did at a time when the signs and tokens of a divinely-appointed ,revelation were being showered upon ,him--signs and tokens which none can reckon except the ,lord1 your ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,and when the set time of concealment was fulfilled1 ,we sent forth1 whilst still wrapt within a myriad veils1 an infinitesimal glimmer of the effulgent ,glory enveloping the ,face of the ,youth1 and lo1 the entire company of the dwellers of the ,realms above were seized with violent commotion and the favored of ,god fell down in adoration before ,him4 ,he hath1 verily1 manifested a glory such as none in the whole creation hath witnessed1 inasmuch as ,he hath arisen to proclaim in person ,his ,cause unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,,xxxii3 ,,that ,,which ,,thou ,,hast ,,heard ,,concerning444 ,that which thou hast heard concerning ,abraham1 the ,friend of the ,all-,merciful1 is the truth1 and no doubt is there about it4 ,the ,voice of ,god commanded ,him to offer up ,ishmael as a sacrifice1 so that ,his steadfastness in the ,faith of ,god and ,his detachment from all else but ,him may be demonstrated unto men4 ,the purpose of ,god1 moreover1 was to sacrifice him as a ransom for the sins and iniquities of all the peoples of the earth4 ,this same honor1 ,jesus1 the ,son of ,mary1 besought the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his name and glory1 to confer upon ,him4 ,for the same reason was usayn offered up as a sacrifice by ,muammad1 the ,apostle of ,god4 ,no man can ever claim to have comprehended the nature of the hidden and manifold grace of ,god2 none can fathom ,his all-embracing mercy4 ,such hath been the perversity of men and their transgressions1 so grievous have been the trials that have afflicted the ,prophets of ,god and their chosen ones1 that all mankind deserveth to be tormented and to perish4 ,god's hidden and most loving providence1 however1 hath1 through both visible and invisible agencies1 protected and will continue to protect it from the penalty of its wickedness4 ,ponder this in thine heart1 that the truth may be revealed unto thee1 and be thou steadfast in ,his path4 ,,xxxiii3 ,,it ,,hath ,,been ,,decreed ,,by ,,us ,,that ,,the ,,word444 ,it hath been decreed by ,us that the ,word of ,god and all the potentialities thereof shall be manifested unto men in strict conformity with such conditions as have been foreordained by ,him ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,we have1 moreover1 ordained that its veil of concealment be none other except its own ,self4 ,such indeed is ,our ,power to achieve ,our ,purpose4 ,should the ,word be allowed to release suddenly all the energies latent within it1 no man could sustain the weight of so mighty a ,revelation4 ,nay1 all that is in heaven and on earth would flee in consternation before it4 ,consider that which hath been sent down unto ,muammad1 the ,apostle of ,god4 ,the measure of the ,revelation of which ,he was the bearer had been clearly foreordained by ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,all-,powerful4 ,they that heard ,him1 however1 could apprehend ,his purpose only to the extent of their station and spiritual capacity4 ,he1 in like manner1 uncovered the ,face of ,wisdom in proportion to their ability to sustain the burden of ,his ,message4 ,no sooner had mankind attained the stage of maturity1 than the ,word revealed to men's eyes the latent energies with which it had been endowed--energies which manifested themselves in the plenitude of their glory when the ,ancient ,beauty appeared1 in the year sixty1 in the person of #8,al-,muammad1 the ,bb4 ,,xxxiv3 ,,all ,,praise ,,and ,,glory ,,be ,,to ,,god ,,who1444 ,all praise and glory be to ,god ,who1 through the power of ,his might1 hath delivered ,his creation from the nakedness of non-existence1 and clothed it with the mantle of life4 ,from among all created things ,he hath singled out for ,his special favor the pure1 the gem-like reality of man1 and invested it with a unique capacity of knowing ,him and of reflecting the greatness of ,his glory4 ,this twofold distinction conferred upon him hath cleansed away from his heart the rust of every vain desire1 and made him worthy of the vesture with which his ,creator hath deigned to clothe him4 ,it hath served to rescue his soul from the wretchedness of ignorance4 ,this robe with which the body and soul of man hath been adorned is the very foundation of his well-being and development4 ,oh1 how blessed the day when1 aided by the grace and might of the one true ,god1 man will have freed himself from the bondage and corruption of the world and all that is therein1 and will have attained unto true and abiding rest beneath the shadow of the ,tree of ,knowledge6 ,the songs which the bird of thine heart had uttered in its great love for its friends have reached their ears1 and moved ,me to answer thy questions1 and reveal to thee such secrets as ,i am allowed to unfold4 ,in thine esteemed letter thou hadst inquired which of the ,prophets of ,god should be regarded as superior to others4 ,know thou assuredly that the essence of all the ,prophets of ,god is one and the same4 ,their unity is absolute4 ,god1 the ,creator1 saith3 ,there is no distinction whatsoever among the ,bearers of ,my ,message4 ,they all have but one purpose2 their secret is the same secret4 ,to prefer one in honor to another1 to exalt certain ones above the rest1 is in no wise to be permitted4 ,every true ,prophet hath regarded ,his ,message as fundamentally the same as the ,revelation of every other ,prophet gone before ,him4 ,if any man1 therefore1 should fail to comprehend this truth1 and should consequently indulge in vain and unseemly language1 no one whose sight is keen and whose understanding is enlightened would ever allow such idle talk to cause him to waver in his belief4 ,the measure of the revelation of the ,prophets of ,god in this world1 however1 must differ4 ,each and every one of them hath been the ,bearer of a distinct ,message1 and hath been commissioned to reveal ,himself through specific acts4 ,it is for this reason that they appear to vary in their greatness4 ,their ,revelation may be likened unto the light of the moon that sheddeth its radiance upon the earth4 ,though every time it appeareth1 it revealeth a fresh measure of its brightness1 yet its inherent splendor can never diminish1 nor can its light suffer extinction4 ,it is clear and evident1 therefore1 that any apparent variation in the intensity of their light is not inherent in the light itself1 but should rather be attributed to the varying receptivity of an ever-changing world4 ,every ,prophet ,whom the ,almighty and ,peerless ,creator hath purposed to send to the peoples of the earth hath been entrusted with a ,message1 and charged to act in a manner that would best meet the requirements of the age in which ,he appeared4 ,god's purpose in sending ,his ,prophets unto men is twofold4 ,the first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance1 and guide them to the light of true understanding4 ,the second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind1 and provide all the means by which they can be established4 ,the ,prophets of ,god should be regarded as physicians whose task is to foster the well-being of the world and its peoples1 that1 through the spirit of oneness1 they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity4 ,to none is given the right to question their words or disparage their conduct1 for they are the only ones who can claim to have understood the patient and to have correctly diagnosed its ailments4 ,no man1 however acute his perception1 can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the ,divine ,physician have attained4 ,little wonder1 then1 if the treatment prescribed by the physician in this day should not be found to be identical with that which he prescribed before4 ,how could it be otherwise when the ills affecting the sufferer necessitate at every stage of his sickness a special remedy8 ,in like manner1 every time the ,prophets of ,god have illumined the world with the resplendent radiance of the ,day ,star of ,divine knowledge1 they have invariably summoned its peoples to embrace the light of ,god through such means as best befitted the exigencies of the age in which they appeared4 ,they were thus able to scatter the darkness of ignorance1 and to shed upon the world the glory of their own knowledge4 ,it is towards the inmost essence of these ,prophets1 therefore1 that the eye of every man of discernment must be directed1 inasmuch as their one and only purpose hath always been to guide the erring1 and give peace to the afflicted4444 ,these are not days of prosperity and triumph4 ,the whole of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills4 ,strive1 therefore1 to save its life through the wholesome medicine which the almighty hand of the unerring ,physician hath prepared4 ,and now concerning thy question regarding the nature of religion4 ,know thou that they who are truly wise have likened the world unto the human temple4 ,as the body of man needeth a garment to clothe it1 so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with the mantle of justice and wisdom4 ,its robe is the ,revelation vouchsafed unto it by ,god4 ,whenever this robe hath fulfilled its purpose1 the ,almighty will assuredly renew it4 ,for every age requireth a fresh measure of the light of ,god4 ,every ,divine ,revelation hath been sent down in a manner that befitted the circumstances of the age in which it hath appeared4 ,as to thy question regarding the sayings of the leaders of past religions4 ,every wise and praiseworthy man will no doubt eschew such vain and profitless talk4 ,the incomparable ,creator hath created all men from one same substance1 and hath exalted their reality above the rest of ,his creatures4 ,success or failure1 gain or loss1 must1 therefore1 depend upon man's own exertions4 ,the more he striveth1 the greater will be his progress4 ,we fain would hope that the vernal showers of the bounty of ,god may cause the flowers of true understanding to spring from the soil of men's hearts1 and may wash them from all earthly defilements4 ,,xxxv3 ,,ponder ,a ,,while4 ,,what ,,is ,,it ,,that ,,prompted1444 ,ponder a while4 ,what is it that prompted1 in every ,dispensation1 the peoples of the earth to shun the ,manifestation of the ,all-,merciful8 ,what could have impelled them to turn away from ,him and to challenge ,his authority8 ,were men to meditate on these words which have flowed from the ,pen of the ,divine ,ordainer1 they would1 one and all1 hasten to embrace the truth of this ,god-given1 and ever-enduring ,revelation1 and would testify to that which ,he ,himself hath solemnly affirmed4 ,it is the veil of idle imaginations which1 in the days of the ,manifestations of the ,unity of ,god and the ,day ,springs of ,his everlasting glory1 hath intervened1 and will continue to intervene1 between them and the rest of mankind4 ,for in those days1 ,he ,who is the ,eternal ,truth manifesteth ,himself in conformity with that which ,he ,himself hath purposed1 and not according to the desires and expectations of men4 ,even as ,he hath revealed3 8,so oft1 then1 as an ,apostle cometh to you with that which your souls desire not1 do ye swell with pride1 and treat some as impostors1 and slay others40 ,there can be no doubt whatever that had these ,apostles appeared1 in bygone ages and cycles1 in accordance with the vain imaginations which the hearts of men had devised1 no one would have repudiated the truth of these sanctified ,beings4 ,though such men have been1 night and day1 remembering the one true ,god1 and have been devoutly engaged in the exercise of their devotions1 yet they failed in the end to recognize1 and partake of the grace of1 the ,day ,springs of the signs of ,god and the ,manifestations of ,his irrefutable evidences4 ,to this the ,scriptures bear witness4 ,thou hast1 no doubt1 heard about it4 ,consider the ,dispensation of ,jesus ,christ4 ,behold1 how all the learned men of that generation1 though eagerly anticipating the coming of the ,promised ,one1 have nevertheless denied ,him4 ,both ,annas1 the most learned among the divines of ,his day1 and ,caiaphas1 the high priest1 denounced ,him and pronounced the sentence of ,his death4 ,in like manner1 when ,muammad1 the ,prophet of ,god--may all men be a sacrifice unto ,him--appeared1 the learned men of ,mecca and ,medina arose1 in the early days of ,his ,revelation1 against ,him and rejected ,his ,message1 while they who were destitute of all learning recognized and embraced ,his ,faith4 ,ponder a while4 ,consider how ,ball1 the ,ethiopian1 unlettered though he was1 ascended into the heaven of faith and certitude1 whilst #8,abdu'llh ,ubayy1 a leader among the learned1 maliciously strove to oppose ,him4 ,behold1 how a mere shepherd was so carried away by the ecstasy of the words of ,god that he was able to gain admittance into the habitation of his ,best-,beloved1 and was united to ,him ,who is the ,lord of ,mankind1 whilst they who prided themselves on their knowledge and wisdom strayed far from ,his path and remained deprived of ,his grace4 ,for this reason ,he hath written3 8,he that is exalted among you shall be abased1 and he that is abased shall be exalted40 ,references to this theme are to be found in most of the heavenly ,books1 as well as in the sayings of the ,prophets and ,messengers of ,god4 ,verily ,i say1 such is the greatness of this ,cause that the father flieth from his son1 and the son flieth from his father4 ,call ye to mind the story of ,noah and ,canaan4 ,god grant that1 in these days of heavenly delight1 ye may not deprive yourselves of the sweet savors of the ,all-,glorious ,god1 and may partake1 in this spiritual ,springtime1 of the outpourings of ,his grace4 ,arise in the name of ,him ,who is the ,object of all knowledge1 and1 with absolute detachment from the learning of men1 lift up your voices and proclaim ,his ,cause4 ,i swear by the ,day ,star of ,divine ,revelation6 ,the very moment ye arise1 ye will witness how a flood of ,divine knowledge will gush out of your hearts1 and will behold the wonders of ,his heavenly wisdom manifested in all their glory before you4 ,were ye to taste of the sweetness of the sayings of the ,all-,merciful1 ye would unhesitatingly forsake your selves1 and would lay down your lives for the ,well-,beloved4 ,who can ever believe that this ,servant of ,god hath at any time cherished in ,his heart a desire for any earthly honor or benefit8 ,the ,cause associated with ,his ,name is far above the transitory things of this world4 ,behold ,him1 an exile1 a victim of tyranny1 in this ,most ,great ,prison4 ,his enemies have assailed ,him on every side1 and will continue to do so till the end of ,his life4 ,whatever1 therefore1 ,he saith unto you is wholly for the sake of ,god1 that haply the peoples of the earth may cleanse their hearts from the stain of evil desire1 may rend its veil asunder1 and attain unto the knowledge of the one true ,god--the most exalted station to which any man can aspire4 ,their belief or disbelief in ,my ,cause can neither profit nor harm ,me4 ,we summon them wholly for the sake of ,god4 ,he1 verily1 can afford to dispense with all creatures4 ,,xxxvi3 ,,know ,,thou ,,that ,,when ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,man444 ,know thou that when the ,son of ,man yielded up ,his breath to ,god1 the whole creation wept with a great weeping4 ,by sacrificing ,himself1 however1 a fresh capacity was infused into all created things4 ,its evidences1 as witnessed in all the peoples of the earth1 are now manifest before thee4 ,the deepest wisdom which the sages have uttered1 the profoundest learning which any mind hath unfolded1 the arts which the ablest hands have produced1 the influence exerted by the most potent of rulers1 are but manifestations of the quickening power released by ,his transcendent1 ,his all-pervasive1 and resplendent ,spirit4 ,we testify that when ,he came into the world1 ,he shed the splendor of ,his glory upon all created things4 ,through ,him the leper recovered from the leprosy of perversity and ignorance4 ,through ,him1 the unchaste and wayward were healed4 ,through ,his power1 born of ,almighty ,god1 the eyes of the blind were opened1 and the soul of the sinner sanctified4 ,leprosy may be interpreted as any veil that interveneth between man and the recognition of the ,lord1 his ,god4 ,whoso alloweth himself to be shut out from ,him is indeed a leper1 who shall not be remembered in the ,kingdom of ,god1 the ,mighty1 the ,all-,praised4 ,we bear witness that through the power of the ,word of ,god every leper was cleansed1 every sickness was healed1 every human infirmity was banished4 ,he it is ,who purified the world4 ,blessed is the man who1 with a face beaming with light1 hath turned towards ,him4 ,,xxxvii3 ,,blessed ,,is ,,the ,,man ,,that ,,hath ,,acknowledged444 ,blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in ,god and in ,his signs1 and recognized that 8,he shall not be asked of ,his doings40 ,such a recognition hath been made by ,god the ornament of every belief1 and its very foundation4 ,upon it must depend the acceptance of every goodly deed4 ,fasten your eyes upon it1 that haply the whisperings of the rebellious may not cause you to slip4 ,were ,he to decree as lawful the thing which from time immemorial had been forbidden1 and forbid that which had1 at all times1 been regarded as lawful1 to none is given the right to question ,his authority4 ,whoso will hesitate1 though it be for less than a moment1 should be regarded as a transgressor4 ,whoso hath not recognized this sublime and fundamental verity1 and hath failed to attain this most exalted station1 the winds of doubt will agitate him1 and the sayings of the infidels will distract his soul4 ,he that hath acknowledged this principle will be endowed with the most perfect constancy4 ,all honor to this all-glorious station1 the remembrance of which adorneth every exalted ,tablet4 ,such is the teaching which ,god bestoweth on you1 a teaching that will deliver you from all manner of doubt and perplexity1 and enable you to attain unto salvation in both this world and in the next4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,ever-,forgiving1 the ,most ,bountiful4 ,,xxxviii3 ,,know ,,of ,a ,,certainty ,,that ,,in ,,every ,,dispensation444 ,know of a certainty that in every ,dispensation the light of ,divine ,revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their spiritual capacity4 ,consider the sun4 ,how feeble its rays the moment it appeareth above the horizon4 ,how gradually its warmth and potency increase as it approacheth its zenith1 enabling meanwhile all created things to adapt themselves to the growing intensity of its light4 ,how steadily it declineth until it reacheth its setting point4 ,were it1 all of a sudden1 to manifest the energies latent within it1 it would1 no doubt1 cause injury to all created things4444 ,in like manner1 if the ,sun of ,truth were suddenly to reveal1 at the earliest stages of its manifestation1 the full measure of the potencies which the providence of the ,almighty hath bestowed upon it1 the earth of human understanding would waste away and be consumed2 for men's hearts would neither sustain the intensity of its revelation1 nor be able to mirror forth the radiance of its light4 ,dismayed and overpowered1 they would cease to exist4 ,,xxxix3 ,,praise ,,be ,,to ,,thee1 ,o ,,lord ,,my ,,god1 ,,for ,,the444 ,praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,lord ,my ,god1 for the wondrous revelations of ,thy inscrutable decree and the manifold woes and trials ,thou hast destined for ,myself4 ,at one time ,thou didst deliver ,me into the hands of ,nimrod2 at another ,thou hast allowed ,pharaoh's rod to persecute ,me4 ,thou1 alone1 canst estimate1 through ,thine all-encompassing knowledge and the operation of ,thy ,will1 the incalculable afflictions ,i have suffered at their hands4 ,again ,thou didst cast ,me into the prison-cell of the ungodly1 for no reason except that ,i was moved to whisper into the ears of the well-favored denizens of ,thy ,kingdom an intimation of the vision with which ,thou hadst1 through ,thy knowledge1 inspired ,me1 and revealed to ,me its meaning through the potency of ,thy might4 ,and again ,thou didst decree that ,i be beheaded by the sword of the infidel4 ,again ,i was crucified for having unveiled to men's eyes the hidden gems of ,thy glorious unity1 for having revealed to them the wondrous signs of ,thy sovereign and everlasting power4 ,how bitter the humiliations heaped upon ,me1 in a subsequent age1 on the plain of ,karbil6 ,how lonely did ,i feel amidst ,thy people6 ,to what a state of helplessness ,i was reduced in that land6 ,unsatisfied with such indignities1 ,my persecutors decapitated ,me1 and1 carrying aloft ,my head from land to land paraded it before the gaze of the unbelieving multitude1 and deposited it on the seats of the perverse and faithless4 ,in a later age1 ,i was suspended1 and ,my breast was made a target to the darts of the malicious cruelty of ,my foes4 ,my limbs were riddled with bullets1 and ,my body was torn asunder4 ,finally1 behold how1 in this ,day1 ,my treacherous enemies have leagued themselves against ,me1 and are continually plotting to instill the venom of hate and malice into the souls of ,thy servants4 ,with all their might they are scheming to accomplish their purpose4444 ,grievous as is ,my plight1 ,o ,god1 ,my ,well-,beloved1 ,i render thanks unto ,thee1 and ,my ,spirit is grateful for whatsoever hath befallen me in the path of ,thy good-pleasure4 ,i am well pleased with that which ,thou didst ordain for ,me1 and welcome1 however calamitous1 the pains and sorrows ,i am made to suffer4 ,,xl3 ,o ,,my ,,well-,,beloved6 ,,thou ,,hast ,,breathed ,,thy444 ,o ,my ,well-,beloved6 ,thou hast breathed ,thy ,breath into ,me1 and divorced ,me from ,mine own ,self4 ,thou didst1 subsequently1 decree that no more than a faint reflection1 a mere emblem of ,thy ,reality within ,me be left among the perverse and envious4 ,behold1 how1 deluded by this emblem1 they have risen against ,me1 and heaped upon ,me their denials6 ,uncover ,thy ,self1 therefore1 ,o ,my ,best-,beloved1 and deliver ,me from ,my plight4 ,thereupon a ,voice replied3 8,i love1 ,i dearly cherish this emblem4 ,how can ,i consent that ,mine eyes1 alone1 gaze upon this emblem1 and that no heart except ,mine heart recognize it8 ,by ,my ,beauty1 which is the same as ,thy ,beauty6 ,my wish is to hide ,thee from ,mine own eyes3 how much more from the eyes of men60 ,i was preparing to make reply1 when lo1 the ,tablet was suddenly ended1 leaving ,my theme unfinished1 and the pearl of ,mine utterance unstrung4 ,,xli3 ,,god ,,is ,,my ,,witness1 ,o ,,people6 ,i ,,was ,,asleep444 ,god is ,my witness1 ,o people6 ,i was asleep on ,my couch1 when lo1 the ,breeze of ,god wafting over ,me roused ,me from ,my slumber4 ,his quickening ,spirit revived ,me1 and ,my tongue was unloosed to voice ,his ,call4 ,accuse ,me not of having transgressed against ,god4 ,behold ,me1 not with your eyes but with ,mine4 ,thus admonisheth you ,he ,who is the ,gracious1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,think ye1 ,o people1 that ,i hold within ,my grasp the control of ,god's ultimate ,will and ,purpose8 ,far be it from ,me to advance such claim4 ,to this ,i testify before ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,exalted1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,had the ultimate destiny of ,god's ,faith been in ,mine hands1 ,i would have never consented1 even though for one moment1 to manifest ,myself unto you1 nor would ,i have allowed one word to fall from ,my lips4 ,of this ,god ,himself is1 verily1 a witness4 ,,xlii3 ,o ,,son ,,of ,,justice6 ,,in ,,the ,,night ,,season ,,the444 ,o ,son of ,justice6 ,in the night season the beauty of the immortal ,being hath repaired from the emerald height of fidelity unto the ,sadratu'l-,muntah1 and wept with such a weeping that the ,concourse on high and the dwellers of the realms above wailed at ,his lamenting4 ,whereupon there was asked1 ,why the wailing and weeping8 ,he made reply3 ,as bidden ,i waited expectant upon the hill of faithfulness1 yet inhaled not from them that dwell on earth the fragrance of fidelity4 ,then summoned to return ,i beheld1 and lo6 certain doves of holiness were sore tried within the claws of the dogs of earth4 ,thereupon the ,maid of ,heaven hastened forth unveiled and resplendent from ,her mystic mansion1 and asked of their names1 and all were told but one4 ,and when urged1 the first letter thereof was uttered1 whereupon the dwellers of the celestial chambers rushed forth out of their habitation of glory4 ,and whilst the second letter was pronounced they fell down1 one and all1 upon the dust4 ,at that moment a voice was heard from the inmost shrine3 8,thus far and no farther40 ,verily1 ,we bear witness unto that which they have done1 and now are doing4 ,,xliii3 ,o ,,afn,n1 ,o ,,thou ,,that ,,hast ,,branched ,,from444 ,o ,afnn1 ,o thou that hast branched from ,mine ancient ,stock6 ,my glory and ,my loving-kindness rest upon thee4 ,how vast is the tabernacle of the ,cause of ,god6 ,it hath overshadowed all the peoples and kindreds of the earth1 and will1 erelong1 gather together the whole of mankind beneath its shelter4 ,thy day of service is now come4 ,countless ,tablets bear the testimony of the bounties vouchsafed unto thee4 ,arise for the triumph of ,my ,cause1 and1 through the power of thine utterance1 subdue the hearts of men4 ,thou must show forth that which will ensure the peace and the well-being of the miserable and the down-trodden4 ,gird up the loins of thine endeavor1 that perchance thou mayest release the captive from his chains1 and enable him to attain unto true liberty4 ,justice is1 in this day1 bewailing its plight1 and ,equity groaneth beneath the yoke of oppression4 ,the thick clouds of tyranny have darkened the face of the earth1 and enveloped its peoples4 ,through the movement of ,our ,pen of glory ,we have1 at the bidding of the omnipotent ,ordainer1 breathed a new life into every human frame1 and instilled into every word a fresh potency4 ,all created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration4 ,this is the most great1 the most joyful tidings imparted by the ,pen of this wronged ,one to mankind4 ,wherefore fear ye1 ,o ,my well-beloved ones8 ,who is it that can dismay you8 ,a touch of moisture sufficeth to dissolve the hardened clay out of which this perverse generation is molded4 ,the mere act of your gathering together is enough to scatter the forces of these vain and worthless people4444 ,every man of insight will1 in this day1 readily admit that the counsels which the ,pen of this wronged ,one hath revealed constitute the supreme animating power for the advancement of the world and the exaltation of its peoples4 ,arise1 ,o people1 and1 by the power of ,god's might1 resolve to gain the victory over your own selves1 that haply the whole earth may be freed and sanctified from its servitude to the gods of its idle fancies--gods that have inflicted such loss upon1 and are responsible for the misery of1 their wretched worshipers4 ,these idols form the obstacle that impedeth man in his efforts to advance in the path of perfection4 ,we cherish the hope that the ,hand of ,divine power may lend its assistance to mankind1 and deliver it from its state of grievous abasement4 ,in one of the ,tablets these words have been revealed3 ,o people of ,god6 ,do not busy yourselves in your own concerns2 let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men4 ,this can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds1 through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior4 ,valiant acts will ensure the triumph of this ,cause1 and a saintly character will reinforce its power4 ,cleave unto righteousness1 ,o people of ,bah6 ,this1 verily1 is the commandment which this wronged ,one hath given unto you1 and the first choice of ,his unrestrained ,will for every one of you4 ,o friends6 ,it behoveth you to refresh and revive your souls through the gracious favors which in this ,divine1 this soul-stirring ,springtime are being showered upon you4 ,the ,day ,star of ,his great glory hath shed its radiance upon you1 and the clouds of ,his limitless grace have overshadowed you4 ,how high the reward of him that hath not deprived himself of so great a bounty1 nor failed to recognize the beauty of his ,best-,beloved in this1 ,his new attire4 ,watch over yourselves1 for the ,evil ,one is lying in wait1 ready to entrap you4 ,gird yourselves against his wicked devices1 and1 led by the light of the name of the ,all-,seeing ,god1 make your escape from the darkness that surroundeth you4 ,let your vision be world-embracing1 rather than confined to your own self4 ,the ,evil ,one is he that hindereth the rise and obstructeth the spiritual progress of the children of men4 ,it is incumbent upon every man1 in this ,day1 to hold fast unto whatsoever will promote the interests1 and exalt the station1 of all nations and just governments4 ,through each and every one of the verses which the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath revealed1 the doors of love and unity have been unlocked and flung open to the face of men4 ,we have erewhile declared--and ,our ,word is the truth--3 8,consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship40 ,whatsoever hath led the children of men to shun one another1 and hath caused dissensions and divisions amongst them1 hath1 through the revelation of these words1 been nullified and abolished4 ,from the heaven of ,god's ,will1 and for the purpose of ennobling the world of being and of elevating the minds and souls of men1 hath been sent down that which is the most effective instrument for the education of the whole human race4 ,the highest essence and most perfect expression of whatsoever the peoples of old have either said or written hath1 through this most potent ,revelation1 been sent down from the heaven of the ,will of the ,all-,possessing1 the ,ever-,abiding ,god4 ,of old it hath been revealed3 8,love of one's country is an element of the ,faith of ,god40 ,the ,tongue of ,grandeur hath1 however1 in the day of ,his manifestation proclaimed3 8,it is not his to boast who loveth his country1 but it is his who loveth the world40 ,through the power released by these exalted words ,he hath lent a fresh impulse1 and set a new direction1 to the birds of men's hearts1 and hath obliterated every trace of restriction and limitation from ,god's holy ,book4 ,o people of ,justice6 ,be as brilliant as the light1 and as splendid as the fire that blazed in the ,burning ,bush4 ,the brightness of the fire of your love will no doubt fuse and unify the contending peoples and kindreds of the earth1 whilst the fierceness of the flame of enmity and hatred cannot but result in strife and ruin4 ,we beseech ,god that ,he may shield ,his creatures from the evil designs of ,his enemies4 ,he verily hath power over all things4 ,all praise be to the one true ,god--exalted be ,his glory--inasmuch as ,he hath1 through the ,pen of the ,most ,high1 unlocked the doors of men's hearts4 ,every verse which this ,pen hath revealed is a bright and shining portal that discloseth the glories of a saintly and pious life1 of pure and stainless deeds4 ,the summons and the message which ,we gave were never intended to reach or to benefit one land or one people only4 ,mankind in its entirety must firmly adhere to whatsoever hath been revealed and vouchsafed unto it4 ,then and only then will it attain unto true liberty4 ,the whole earth is illuminated with the resplendent glory of ,god's ,revelation4 ,in the year sixty ,he ,who heralded the light of ,divine ,guidance--may all creation be a sacrifice unto ,him--arose to announce a fresh revelation of the ,divine ,spirit1 and was followed1 twenty years later1 by ,him through ,whose coming the world was made the recipient of this promised glory1 this wondrous favor4 ,behold how the generality of mankind hath been endued with the capacity to hearken unto ,god's most exalted ,word--the ,word upon which must depend the gathering together and spiritual resurrection of all men4444 ,incline your hearts1 ,o people of ,god1 unto the counsels of your true1 your incomparable ,friend4 ,the ,word of ,god may be likened unto a sapling1 whose roots have been implanted in the hearts of men4 ,it is incumbent upon you to foster its growth through the living waters of wisdom1 of sanctified and holy words1 so that its root may become firmly fixed and its branches may spread out as high as the heavens and beyond4 ,o ye that dwell on earth6 ,the distinguishing feature that marketh the preeminent character of this ,supreme ,revelation consisteth in that ,we have1 on the one hand1 blotted out from the pages of ,god's holy ,book whatsoever hath been the cause of strife1 of malice and mischief amongst the children of men1 and have1 on the other1 laid down the essential prerequisites of concord1 of understanding1 of complete and enduring unity4 ,well is it with them that keep ,my statutes4 ,time and again have ,we admonished ,our beloved ones to avoid1 nay to flee from1 anything whatsoever from which the odor of mischief can be detected4 ,the world is in great turmoil1 and the minds of its people are in a state of utter confusion4 ,we entreat the ,almighty that ,he may graciously illuminate them with the glory of ,his ,justice1 and enable them to discover that which will be profitable unto them at all times and under all conditions4 ,he1 verily is the ,all-,possessing1 the ,most ,high4 ,,xliv3 ,,lay ,,not ,,aside ,,the ,,fear ,,of ,,god1 ,o ,,ye ,,the444 ,lay not aside the fear of ,god1 ,o ye the learned of the world1 and judge fairly the ,cause of this unlettered ,one to ,whom all the ,books of ,god1 the ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting1 have testified4 444,will not the dread of ,divine displeasure1 the fear of ,him ,who hath no peer or equal1 arouse you8 ,he ,whom the world hath wronged hath1 at no time1 associated with you1 hath never studied your writings1 nor participated in any of your disputations4 ,the garb ,he weareth1 ,his flowing locks1 ,his headdress1 attest the truth of ,his words4 ,how long will ye persist in your injustice8 ,witness the habitation in which ,he1 ,who is the incarnation of justice1 hath been forced to dwell4 ,open your eyes1 and1 beholding ,his plight1 meditate diligently upon that which your hands have wrought1 that haply ye may not be deprived of the light of ,his ,divine utterance1 nor remain bereft of your share of the ocean of ,his knowledge4 ,certain ones among both commoners and nobles have objected that this wronged ,one is neither a member of the ecclesiastical order nor a descendant of the ,prophet4 ,say3 ,o ye that claim to be just6 ,reflect a little while1 and ye shall recognize how infinitely exalted is ,his present state above the station ye claim ,he should possess4 ,the ,will of the ,almighty hath decreed that out of a house wholly devoid of all that the divines1 the doctors1 the sages1 and scholars commonly possess ,his ,cause should proceed and be made manifest4 ,the ,breathings of the ,divine ,spirit awoke ,him1 and bade ,him arise and proclaim ,his ,revelation4 ,no sooner was ,he roused from ,his slumber than ,he lifted up ,his voice and summoned the whole of mankind unto ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,we have been moved to reveal these words in consideration of the weakness and frailty of men2 otherwise1 the ,cause ,we have proclaimed is such as no pen can ever describe1 nor any mind conceive its greatness4 ,to this beareth witness ,he with ,whom is the ,mother ,book4 ,,xlv3 ,,the ,,ancient ,,beauty ,,hath ,,consented ,,to ,,be444 ,the ,ancient ,beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage1 and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty ,stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty4 ,he hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow1 that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy1 and be filled with gladness4 ,this is of the mercy of your ,lord1 the ,compassionate1 the ,most ,merciful4 ,we have accepted to be abased1 ,o believers in the ,unity of ,god1 that ye may be exalted1 and have suffered manifold afflictions1 that ye might prosper and flourish4 ,he ,who hath come to build anew the whole world1 behold1 how they that have joined partners with ,god have forced ,him to dwell within the most desolate of cities6 ,,xlvi3 ,i ,,sorrow ,,not ,,for ,,the ,,burden ,,of ,,my ,,imprisonment4444 ,i sorrow not for the burden of ,my imprisonment4 ,neither do ,i grieve over ,my abasement1 or the tribulation ,i suffer at the hands of ,mine enemies4 ,by ,my life6 ,they are ,my glory1 a glory wherewith ,god hath adorned ,his own ,self4 ,would that ye know it6 ,the shame ,i was made to bear hath uncovered the glory with which the whole of creation had been invested1 and through the cruelties ,i have endured1 the ,day ,star of ,justice hath manifested itself1 and shed its splendor upon men4 ,my sorrows are for those who have involved themselves in their corrupt passions1 and claim to be associated with the ,faith of ,god1 the ,gracious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,it behoveth the people of ,bah to die to the world and all that is therein1 to be so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of ,paradise may inhale from their garment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity1 that all the peoples of the earth may recognize in their faces the brightness of the ,all-,merciful1 and that through them may be spread abroad the signs and tokens of ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise4 ,they that have tarnished the fair name of the ,cause of ,god1 by following the things of the flesh--these are in palpable error6 ,,xlvii3 ,o ,,jews6 ,,if ,,ye ,,be ,,intent ,,on ,,crucifying ,,once444 ,o ,jews6 ,if ye be intent on crucifying once again ,jesus1 the ,spirit of ,god1 put ,me to death1 for ,he hath once more1 in ,my person1 been made manifest unto you4 ,deal with ,me as ye wish1 for ,i have vowed to lay down ,my life in the path of ,god4 ,i will fear no one1 though the powers of earth and heaven be leagued against ,me4 ,followers of the ,gospel6 ,if ye cherish the desire to slay ,muammad1 the ,apostle of ,god1 seize ,me and put an end to ,my life1 for ,i am ,he1 and ,my ,self is ,his ,self4 ,do unto ,me as ye like1 for the deepest longing of ,mine heart is to attain the presence of ,my ,best-,beloved in ,his ,kingdom of ,glory4 ,such is the ,divine decree1 if ye know it4 ,followers of ,muammad6 ,if it be your wish to riddle with your shafts the breast of ,him ,who hath caused ,his ,book the ,bayn to be sent down unto you1 lay hands on ,me and persecute ,me1 for ,i am ,his ,well-,beloved1 the revelation of ,his own ,self1 though ,my name be not ,his name4 ,i have come in the shadows of the clouds of glory1 and am invested by ,god with invincible sovereignty4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,truth1 the ,knower of things unseen4 ,i1 verily1 anticipate from you the treatment ye have accorded unto ,him that came before ,me4 ,to this all things1 verily1 witness1 if ye be of those who hearken4 ,o people of the ,bayn6 ,if ye have resolved to shed the blood of ,him ,whose coming the ,bb hath proclaimed1 ,whose advent ,muammad hath prophesied1 and ,whose ,revelation ,jesus ,christ ,himself hath announced1 behold ,me standing1 ready and defenseless1 before you4 ,deal with ,me after your own desires4 ,,xlviii3 ,,god ,,is ,,my ,,witness6 ,,had ,,it ,,not ,,been ,,in444 ,god is my witness6 ,had it not been in conflict with that which the ,tablets of ,god have decreed1 ,i would have gladly kissed the hands of whosoever attempted to shed my blood in the path of the ,well-,beloved4 ,i would1 moreover1 have bestowed upon him a share of such worldly goods as ,god had allowed me to possess1 even though he who perpetrated this act would have provoked the wrath of the ,almighty1 incurred ,his malediction1 and deserved to be tormented throughout the eternity of ,god1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,equitable1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,xlix3 ,,know ,,verily ,,that ,,whenever ,,this ,,youth444 ,know verily that whenever this ,youth turneth ,his eyes towards ,his own self1 he findeth it the most insignificant of all creation4 ,when ,he contemplates1 however1 the bright effulgences ,he hath been empowered to manifest1 lo1 that self is transfigured before ,him into a sovereign ,potency permeating the essence of all things visible and invisible4 ,glory be to ,him ,who1 through the power of truth1 hath sent down the ,manifestation of ,his own ,self and entrusted ,him with ,his message unto all mankind4 ,l3 ,,shake ,,off1 ,o ,,heedless ,,ones1 ,,the ,,slumber ,,of444 ,shake off1 ,o heedless ones1 the slumber of negligence1 that ye may behold the radiance which ,his glory hath spread through the world4 ,how foolish are those who murmur against the premature birth of ,his light4 ,o ye who are inly blind6 ,whether too soon or too late1 the evidences of ,his effulgent glory are now actually manifest4 ,it behoveth you to ascertain whether or not such a light hath appeared4 ,it is neither within your power nor mine to set the time at which it should be made manifest4 ,god's inscrutable ,wisdom hath fixed its hour beforehand4 ,be content1 ,o people1 with that which ,god hath desired for you and predestined unto you4444 ,o my ill-wishers6 ,the ,day ,star of eternal ,guidance beareth me witness3 ,had it been in my power1 ,i would have1 under no circumstances1 consented to distinguish myself amongst men1 for the ,name ,i bear utterly disdaineth to associate itself with this generation whose tongues are sullied and whose hearts are false4 ,and whenever ,i chose to hold my peace and be still1 lo1 the voice of the ,holy ,ghost1 standing on my right hand1 aroused me1 and the ,supreme ,spirit appeared before my face1 and ,gabriel overshadowed me1 and the ,spirit of ,glory stirred within my bosom1 bidding me arise and break my silence4 ,if your hearing be purged and your ears be attentive1 ye will assuredly perceive that every limb of my body1 nay all the atoms of my being1 proclaim and bear witness to this call3 8,god1 besides ,whom is none other ,god1 and ,he1 ,whose beauty is now manifest1 is the reflection of ,his glory unto all that are in heaven and on earth40 ,,li3 ,o ,,people6 ,i ,,swear ,,by ,,the ,,one ,,true ,,god6 ,,this444 ,o people6 ,i swear by the one true ,god6 ,this is the ,ocean out of which all seas have proceeded1 and with which every one of them will ultimately be united4 ,from ,him all the ,suns have been generated1 and unto ,him they will all return4 ,through ,his potency the ,trees of ,divine ,revelation have yielded their fruits1 every one of which hath been sent down in the form of a ,prophet1 bearing a ,message to ,god's creatures in each of the worlds whose number ,god1 alone1 in ,his all-encompassing ,knowledge1 can reckon4 ,this ,he hath accomplished through the agency of but one ,letter of ,his ,word1 revealed by ,his ,pen--a ,pen moved by ,his directing ,finger--,his ,finger itself sustained by the power of ,god's ,truth4 ,,lii3 ,,say3 ,o ,,people6 ,,withhold ,,not ,,from ,,yourselves444 ,say3 ,o people6 ,withhold not from yourselves the grace of ,god and ,his mercy4 ,whoso withholdeth himself therefrom is indeed in grievous loss4 ,what1 ,o people6 ,do ye worship the dust1 and turn away from your ,lord1 the ,gracious1 the ,all-,bountiful8 ,fear ye ,god1 and be not of those who perish4 ,say3 ,the ,book of ,god hath been sent down in the form of this ,youth4 ,hallowed1 therefore1 be ,god1 the most excellent of makers6 ,take ye good heed1 ,o peoples of the world1 lest ye flee from ,his face4 ,nay1 make haste to attain ,his presence1 and be of them that have returned unto ,him4 ,pray to be forgiven1 ,o people1 for having failed in your duty towards ,god1 and for having trespassed against ,his ,cause1 and be not of the foolish4 ,he it is ,who hath created you2 ,he it is ,who hath nourished your souls through ,his ,cause1 and enabled you to recognize ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,he it is ,who hath unveiled to your eyes the treasures of ,his knowledge1 and caused you to ascend unto the heaven of certitude--the certitude of ,his resistless1 ,his irrefutable1 and most exalted ,faith4 ,beware that ye do not deprive yourselves of the grace of ,god1 that ye do not bring to naught your works1 and do not repudiate the truth of this most manifest1 this lofty1 this shining1 and glorious ,revelation4 ,judge ye fairly the ,cause of ,god1 your ,creator1 and behold that which hath been sent down from the ,throne on high1 and meditate thereon with innocent and sanctified hearts4 ,then will the truth of this ,cause appear unto you as manifest as the sun in its noon-tide glory4 ,then will ye be of them that have believed in ,him4 ,say3 ,the first and foremost testimony establishing ,his truth is ,his own ,self4 ,next to this testimony is ,his ,revelation4 ,for whoso faileth to recognize either the one or the other ,he hath established the words ,he hath revealed as proof of ,his reality and truth4 ,this is1 verily1 an evidence of ,his tender mercy unto men4 ,he hath endowed every soul with the capacity to recognize the signs of ,god4 ,how could ,he1 otherwise1 have fulfilled ,his testimony unto men1 if ye be of them that ponder ,his ,cause in their hearts4 ,he will never deal unjustly with any one1 neither will ,he task a soul beyond its power4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,compassionate1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,say3 ,so great is the glory of the ,cause of ,god that even the blind can perceive it1 how much more they whose sight is sharp1 whose vision is pure4 ,the blind1 though unable to perceive the light of the sun1 are1 nevertheless1 capable of experiencing its continual heat4 ,the blind in heart1 however1 among the people of the ,bayn--and to this ,god is ,my witness--are impotent1 no matter how long the ,sun may shine upon them1 either to perceive the radiance of its glory1 or to appreciate the warmth of its rays4 ,say3 ,o people of the ,bayn6 ,we have chosen you out of the world to know and recognize ,our ,self4 ,we have caused you to draw nigh unto the right side of ,paradise--the ,spot out of which the undying ,fire crieth in manifold accents3 8,there is none other ,god besides ,me1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,most ,high60 ,take heed lest ye allow yourselves to be shut out as by a veil from this ,day ,star that shineth above the dayspring of the ,will of your ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 and whose light hath encompassed both the small and the great4 ,purge your sight1 that ye may perceive its glory with your own eyes1 and depend not on the sight of any one except your self1 for ,god hath never burdened any soul beyond its power4 ,thus hath it been sent down unto the ,prophets and ,messengers of old1 and been recorded in all the ,scriptures4 ,strive1 ,o people1 to gain admittance into this vast ,immensity for which ,god ordained neither beginning nor end1 in which ,his voice hath been raised1 and over which have been wafted the sweet savors of holiness and glory4 ,divest not yourselves of the ,robe of grandeur1 neither suffer your hearts to be deprived of remembering your ,lord1 nor your ears of hearkening unto the sweet melodies of ,his wondrous1 ,his sublime1 ,his all-compelling1 ,his clear1 and most eloquent voice4 ,,liii3 ,o ,n,,ir1 ,o ,,my ,,servant6 ,,god1 ,,the ,,eternal444 ,o ,nir1 ,o ,my servant6 ,god1 the ,eternal ,truth1 beareth ,me witness4 ,the ,celestial ,youth hath1 in this ,day1 raised above the heads of men the glorious ,chalice of ,immortality1 and is standing expectant upon ,his seat1 wondering what eye will recognize ,his glory1 and what arm will1 unhesitatingly1 be stretched forth to seize the ,cup from ,his snow-white ,hand and drain it4 ,only a few have as yet quaffed from this peerless1 this soft-flowing grace of the ,ancient ,king4 ,these occupy the loftiest mansions of ,paradise1 and are firmly established upon the seats of authority4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,neither the mirrors of ,his glory1 nor the revealers of ,his names1 nor any created thing1 that hath been or will ever be1 can ever excel them1 if ye be of them that comprehend this truth4 ,o ,nir6 ,the excellence of this ,day is immensely exalted above the comprehension of men1 however extensive their knowledge1 however profound their understanding4 ,how much more must it transcend the imaginations of them that have strayed from its light1 and been shut out from its glory6 ,shouldst thou rend asunder the grievous veil that blindeth thy vision1 thou wouldst behold such a bounty as naught1 from the beginning that hath no beginning till the end that hath no end1 can either resemble or equal4 ,what language should ,he ,who is the ,mouthpiece of ,god choose to speak1 so that they who are shut out as by a veil from ,him can recognize ,his glory8 ,the righteous1 inmates of the ,kingdom on high1 shall drink deep from the ,wine of ,holiness1 in ,my name1 the all-glorious4 ,none other besides them will share such benefits4 ,,liv3 ,,by ,,the ,,righteousness ,,of ,,god1 ,,my ,,well-,,beloved6444 ,by the righteousness of ,god1 my ,well-,beloved6 ,i have never aspired after worldly leadership4 ,my sole purpose hath been to hand down unto men that which ,i was bidden to deliver by ,god1 the ,gracious1 the ,incomparable1 that it may detach them from all that pertaineth to this world1 and cause them to attain such heights as neither the ungodly can conceive1 nor the froward imagine4 ,,lv3 ,,call ,,thou ,,to ,,remembrance1 ,o ,,land ,,of ,t444 ,call thou to remembrance1 ,o ,land of ,t 7ihrn71 the former days in which thy ,lord had made thee the seat of ,his throne1 and had enveloped thee with the effulgence of ,his glory4 ,how vast the number of those sanctified beings1 those symbols of certitude1 who1 in their great love for thee1 have laid down their lives and sacrificed their all for thy sake6 ,joy be to thee1 and blissfulness to them that inhabit thee4 ,i testify that out of thee1 as every discerning heart knoweth1 proceedeth the living breath of ,him ,who is the ,desire of the world4 ,in thee the ,unseen hath been revealed1 and out of thee hath gone forth that which lay hid from the eyes of men4 ,which one of the multitude of thy sincere lovers shall ,we remember1 whose blood hath been shed within thy gates1 and whose dust is now concealed beneath thy soil8 ,the sweet savors of ,god have unceasingly been wafted1 and shall everlastingly continue to be wafted upon thee4 ,our ,pen is moved to commemorate thee1 and to extol the victims of tyranny1 those men and women that sleep beneath thy dust4 ,among them is ,our own sister1 whom ,we now call to mind as a token of ,our fidelity1 and as proof of ,our loving-kindness1 unto her4 ,how piteous was her plight6 ,in what a state of resignation she returned to her ,god6 ,we1 alone1 in ,our all-encompassing knowledge1 have known it4 ,o ,land of ,t6 ,thou art still1 through the grace of ,god1 a center around which ,his beloved ones have gathered4 ,happy are they2 happy every refugee that seeketh thy shelter1 in his sufferings in the path of ,god1 the ,lord of this wondrous ,day6 ,blessed are they that remember the one true ,god1 that magnify ,his ,name1 and seek diligently to serve ,his ,cause4 ,it is to these men that the sacred ,books of old have referred4 ,on them hath the ,commander of the ,faithful lavished his praise1 saying3 8,the blessedness awaiting them excelleth the blessedness we now enjoy40 ,he1 verily1 hath spoken the truth1 and to this ,we now testify4 ,the glory of their station1 however1 is as yet undisclosed4 ,the ,hand of ,divine power will1 assuredly1 lift up the veil1 and expose to the sight of men that which shall cheer and lighten the eye of the world4 ,render thanks unto ,god1 the ,eternal ,truth1 exalted be ,his glory1 inasmuch as ye have attained so wondrous a favor1 and been adorned with the ornament of ,his praise4 ,appreciate the value of these days1 and cleave to whatsoever beseemeth this ,revelation4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,counsellor1 the ,compassionate1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,,lvi3 ,,let ,,nothing ,,grieve ,,thee1 ,o ,,land ,,of ,t444 ,let nothing grieve thee1 ,o ,land of ,t 7ihrn71 for ,god hath chosen thee to be the source of the joy of all mankind4 ,he shall1 if it be ,his ,will1 bless thy throne with one who will rule with justice1 who will gather together the flock of ,god which the wolves have scattered4 ,such a ruler will1 with joy and gladness1 turn his face towards1 and extend his favors unto1 the people of ,bah4 ,he indeed is accounted in the sight of ,god as a jewel among men4 ,upon him rest forever the glory of ,god1 and the glory of all that dwell in the kingdom of ,his revelation4 ,rejoice with great joy1 for ,god hath made thee 8the ,day ,spring of ,his light10 inasmuch as within thee was born the ,manifestation of ,his ,glory4 ,be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred upon thee--a name through which the ,day ,star of grace hath shed its splendor1 through which both earth and heaven have been illumined4 ,ere long will the state of affairs within thee be changed1 and the reins of power fall into the hands of the people4 ,verily1 thy ,lord is the ,all-,knowing4 ,his authority embraceth all things4 ,rest thou assured in the gracious favor of thy ,lord4 ,the eye of ,his loving-kindness shall everlastingly be directed towards thee4 ,the day is approaching when thy agitation will have been transmuted into peace and quiet calm4 ,thus hath it been decreed in the wondrous ,book4 ,,lvii3 ,,when ,,thou ,,art ,,departed ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,court ,,of444 ,when thou art departed out of the court of ,my presence1 ,o ,muammad1 direct thy steps towards ,my ,house 7,baghdd ,house71 and visit it on behalf of thy ,lord4 ,when thou reachest its door1 stand thou before it and say3 ,whither is the ,ancient ,beauty gone1 ,o most great ,house of ,god1 ,he through ,whom ,god hath made thee the cynosure of an adoring world1 and proclaimed thee to be the sign of ,his remembrance unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth8 ,oh6 for the former days when thou1 ,o ,house of ,god1 wert made ,his footstool1 the days when in ceaseless strains the melody of the ,all-,merciful poured forth from thee6 ,what hath become of thy jewel whose glory hath irradiated all creation8 ,whither are gone the days in which ,he1 the ,ancient ,king1 had made thee the throne of ,his glory1 the days in which ,he had chosen thee alone to be the lamp of salvation between earth and heaven1 and caused thee to diffuse1 at dawn and at eventide1 the sweet fragrance of the ,all-,glorious8 ,where1 ,o ,house of ,god1 is the ,sun of majesty and power ,who had enveloped thee with the brightness of ,his presence8 ,where is ,he1 the ,day ,spring of the tender mercies of thy ,lord1 the ,unconstrained1 ,who had established ,his seat within thy walls8 ,what is it1 ,o throne of ,god1 that hath altered thy countenance1 and made thy pillars to tremble8 ,what could have closed thy door to the face of them that eagerly seek thee8 ,what hath made thee so desolate8 ,couldst thou have been told that the ,beloved of the world is pursued by the swords of ,his enemies8 ,the ,lord bless thee1 and bless thy fidelity unto ,him1 inasmuch as thou hast remained ,his companion through all ,his sorrows and ,his sufferings4 ,i testify that thou art the scene of ,his transcendent glory1 ,his most holy habitation4 ,out of thee hath gone forth the ,breath of the ,all-,glorious1 a ,breath that hath breathed over all created things1 and filled with joy the breasts of the devout that dwell in the mansions of ,paradise4 ,the ,concourse on high1 and they that inhabit the ,cities of the ,names of ,god1 weep over thee1 and bewail the things that have befallen thee4 ,thou art still the symbol of the names and attributes of the ,almighty1 the ,point towards which the eyes of the ,lord of earth and heaven are directed4 ,there hath befallen thee what hath befallen the ,ark in which ,god's pledge of security had been made to dwell4 ,well is it with him that apprehendeth the intent of these words1 and recognizeth the purpose of ,him ,who is the ,lord of all creation4 ,happy are those that inhale from thee the sweet savors of the ,merciful1 that acknowledge thine exaltation1 that safeguard thy sanctity1 that reverence1 at all times1 thy station4 ,we implore the ,almighty to grant that the eyes of those who have turned away from thee1 and failed to appreciate thy worth1 may be opened1 that they may truly recognize thee1 and ,him ,who1 through the power of truth1 hath raised thee up on high4 ,blind1 indeed1 are they about thee1 and utterly unaware of thee in this day4 ,thy ,lord is1 verily1 the ,gracious1 the ,forgiving4 ,i bear witness that through thee ,god hath proved the hearts of ,his servants4 ,blessed be the man that directeth his steps toward thee1 and visiteth thee4 ,woe to him that denieth thy right1 that turneth away from thee1 that dishonoreth thy name1 and profaneth thy holiness4 ,grieve not1 ,o ,house of ,god1 if the veil of thy sanctity be rent asunder by the infidels4 ,god hath1 in the world of creation1 adorned thee with the jewel of ,his remembrance4 ,such an ornament no man can1 at any time1 profane4 ,towards thee the eyes of thy ,lord shall1 under all conditions1 remain directed4 ,he1 verily1 will incline ,his ear to the prayer of every one that visiteth thee1 who will circle around thee1 and calleth upon ,him in thy name4 ,he1 in truth1 is the ,forgiving1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,o my ,god1 by this ,house that hath suffered such change in its separation from ,thee1 that bewaileth its remoteness from ,thy presence1 and lamenteth ,thy tribulation1 to forgive me1 and my parents1 and my kindred1 and such of my brethren as have believed in ,thee4 ,grant that all my needs be satisfied1 through ,thy bounty1 ,o ,thou ,who art the ,king of ,names4 ,thou art the most ,bountiful of the bountiful1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,lviii3 ,,call ,,thou ,,to ,,mind ,,that ,,which ,,hath ,,been444 ,call thou to mind that which hath been revealed unto ,mihd1 ,our servant1 in the first year of ,our banishment to the ,land of ,mystery 7,adrianople74 ,unto him have ,we predicted that which must befall ,our ,house 7,baghdd ,house71 in the days to come1 lest he grieve over the acts of robbery and violence already perpetrated against it4 ,verily1 the ,lord1 thy ,god1 knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,to him ,we have written3 ,this is not the first humiliation inflicted upon ,my ,house4 ,in days gone by the hand of the oppressor hath heaped indignities upon it4 ,verily1 it shall be so abased in the days to come as to cause tears to flow from every discerning eye4 ,thus have ,we unfolded to thee things hidden beyond the veil1 inscrutable to all save ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,praised4 ,in the fullness of time1 the ,lord shall1 by the power of truth1 exalt it in the eyes of all men4 ,he shall cause it to become the ,standard of ,his ,kingdom1 the ,shrine round which will circle the concourse of the faithful4 ,thus hath spoken the ,lord1 thy ,god1 ere the day of lamentation arriveth4 ,this revelation have ,we given thee in ,our holy ,tablet1 lest thou sorrow for what hath befallen ,our ,house through the assaults of the enemy4 ,all praise be to ,god1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,lix3 ,,every ,,unbiased ,,observer ,,will ,,readily ,,admit444 ,every unbiased observer will readily admit that1 ever since the dawn of ,his ,revelation1 this wronged ,one hath invited all mankind to turn their faces towards the ,day ,spring of ,glory1 and hath forbidden corruption1 hatred1 oppression1 and wickedness4 ,and yet1 behold what the hand of the oppressor hath wrought6 ,no pen dare describe his tyranny4 ,though the purpose of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth hath been to confer everlasting life upon all men1 and ensure their security and peace1 yet witness how they have arisen to shed the blood of ,his loved ones1 and have pronounced on ,him the sentence of death4 ,the instigators of this oppression are those very persons who1 though so foolish1 are reputed the wisest of the wise4 ,such is their blindness that1 with unfeigned severity1 they have cast into this fortified and afflictive ,prison ,him1 for the servants of ,whose ,threshold the world hath been created4 ,the ,almighty1 however1 in spite of them and those that have repudiated the truth of this 8,great ,announcement10 hath transformed this ,prison ,house into the ,most ,exalted ,paradise1 the ,heaven of ,heavens4 ,we did not refuse such material benefits as could relieve ,us from ,our afflictions4 ,every one of ,our companions1 however1 will bear ,us witness that ,our holy court is sanctified from1 and far above1 such material benefits4 ,we have nevertheless accepted1 while confined in this ,prison1 those things of which the infidels have striven to deprive ,us4 ,if a man be found willing to rear1 in ,our name1 an edifice of pure gold or silver1 or a house begemmed with stones of inestimable value1 such a wish will no doubt be granted4 ,he1 verily1 doeth what ,he willeth1 and ordaineth that which ,he pleaseth4 ,leave hath1 moreover1 been given to whosoever may desire to raise1 throughout the length and breadth of this land1 noble and imposing structures1 and dedicate the rich and sacred territories adjoining the ,jordan and its vicinity to the worship and service of the one true ,god1 magnified be ,his glory1 that the prophecies recorded by the ,pen of the ,most ,high in the sacred ,scriptures may be fulfilled1 and that which ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds1 hath purposed in this most exalted1 this most holy1 this mighty1 and wondrous ,revelation may be made manifest4 ,we have1 of old1 uttered these words3 ,spread thy skirt1 ,o ,jerusalem6 ,ponder this in your hearts1 ,o people of ,bah1 and render thanks unto your ,lord1 the ,expounder1 the ,most ,manifest4 ,were the mysteries1 that are known to none except ,god1 to be unraveled1 the whole of mankind would witness the evidences of perfect and consummate justice4 ,with a certitude that none can question1 all men would cleave to ,his commandments1 and would scrupulously observe them4 ,we1 verily1 have decreed in ,our ,book a goodly and bountiful reward to whosoever will turn away from wickedness and lead a chaste and godly life4 ,he1 in truth1 is the ,great ,giver1 the ,all-,bountiful4 ,,lx3 ,,my ,,captivity ,,can ,,bring ,,on ,,me ,,no ,,shame4444 ,my captivity can bring on ,me no shame4 ,nay1 by ,my life1 it conferreth on ,me glory4 ,that which can make ,me ashamed is the conduct of such of ,my followers as profess to love ,me1 yet in fact follow the ,evil ,one4 ,they1 indeed1 are of the lost4 ,when the time set for this ,revelation was fulfilled1 and ,he ,who is the ,day ,star of the world appeared in #8,irq1 ,he bade ,his followers observe that which would sanctify them from all earthly defilements4 ,some preferred to follow the desires of a corrupt inclination1 while others walked in the way of righteousness and truth1 and were rightly guided4 ,say3 ,he is not to be numbered with the people of ,bah who followeth his mundane desires1 or fixeth his heart on things of the earth4 ,he is ,my true follower who1 if he come to a valley of pure gold1 will pass straight through it aloof as a cloud1 and will neither turn back1 nor pause4 ,such a man is1 assuredly1 of ,me4 ,from his garment the ,concourse on high can inhale the fragrance of sanctity4444 ,and if he met the fairest and most comely of women1 he would not feel his heart seduced by the least shadow of desire for her beauty4 ,such an one1 indeed1 is the creation of spotless chastity4 ,thus instructeth you the ,pen of the ,ancient of ,days1 as bidden by your ,lord1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,bountiful4 ,,lxi3 ,,the ,,world ,,is ,,in ,,travail1 ,,and ,,its ,,agitation444 ,the world is in travail1 and its agitation waxeth day by day4 ,its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief4 ,such shall be its plight1 that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly4 ,its perversity will long continue4 ,and when the appointed hour is come1 there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake4 ,then1 and only then1 will the ,divine ,standard be unfurled1 and the ,nightingale of ,paradise warble its melody4 ,,lxii3 ,,recall ,,thou ,,to ,,mind ,,my ,,sorrows1 ,,my ,,cares444 ,recall thou to mind ,my sorrows1 ,my cares and anxieties1 ,my woes and trials1 the state of ,my captivity1 the tears that ,i have shed1 the bitterness of ,mine anguish1 and now ,my imprisonment in this far-off land4 ,god1 ,o ,muaf1 beareth ,me witness4 ,couldst thou be told what hath befallen the ,ancient ,beauty1 thou wouldst flee into the wilderness1 and weep with a great weeping4 ,in thy grief1 thou wouldst smite thyself on the head1 and cry out as one stung by the sting of the adder4 ,be thou grateful to ,god1 that ,we have refused to divulge unto thee the secrets of those unsearchable decrees that have been sent down unto ,us from the heaven of the ,will of thy ,lord1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,every morning ,i arose from ,my bed1 ,i discovered the hosts of countless afflictions massed behind ,my door2 and every night when ,i lay down1 lo6 ,my heart was torn with agony at what it had suffered from the fiendish cruelty of its foes4 ,with every piece of bread the ,ancient ,beauty breaketh is coupled the assault of a fresh affliction1 and with every drop ,he drinketh is mixed the bitterness of the most woeful of trials4 ,he is preceded in every step ,he taketh by an army of unforeseen calamities1 while in ,his rear follow legions of agonizing sorrows4 ,such is ,my plight1 wert thou to ponder it in thine heart4 ,let not1 however1 thy soul grieve over that which ,god hath rained down upon ,us4 ,merge thy will in ,his pleasure1 for ,we have1 at no time1 desired anything whatsoever except ,his ,will1 and have welcomed each one of ,his irrevocable decrees4 ,let thine heart be patient1 and be thou not dismayed4 ,follow not in the way of them that are sorely agitated4 ,,lxiii3 ,o ,,thou ,,whose ,,face ,,is ,,turned ,,towards ,,me6444 ,o thou whose face is turned towards ,me6 ,as soon as thine eyes behold from afar ,my native city 7ihrn71 stand thou and say3 ,i am come to thee out of the ,prison1 ,o ,land of ,t1 with tidings from ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,i announce unto thee1 ,o mother of the world and fountain of light unto all its peoples1 the tender mercies of thy ,lord1 and greet thee in the name of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 the ,knower of things unseen4 ,i testify that within thee ,he ,who is the ,hidden ,name was revealed1 and the ,unseen ,treasure uncovered4 ,through thee the secret of all things1 be they of the past or of the future1 hath been unfolded4 ,o ,land of ,t6 ,he ,who is the ,lord of ,names remembereth thee in ,his glorious station4 ,thou wert the ,day ,spring of the ,cause of ,god1 the fountain of ,his ,revelation1 the manifestation of ,his ,most ,great ,name--a ,name that hath caused the hearts and souls of men to tremble4 ,how vast the number of those men and women1 those victims of tyranny1 that have1 within thy walls1 laid down their lives in the path of ,god1 and been buried beneath thy dust with such cruelty as to cause every honored servant of ,god to bemoan their plight4 ,,lxiv3 ,,it ,,is ,,our ,,wish ,,to ,,remember ,,the ,,abode ,,of444 ,it is ,our wish to remember the ,abode of supreme blissfulness 7ihrn71 the holy and shining city--the city wherein the fragrance of the ,well-,beloved hath been shed1 wherein ,his signs have been diffused1 wherein the evidences of ,his glory have been revealed1 wherein ,his standards have been raised1 wherein ,his tabernacle hath been pitched1 wherein each of ,his wise decrees hath been unfolded4 ,it is the city in which the sweet savors of reunion have breathed1 which have caused the sincere lovers of ,god to draw nigh unto ,him1 and to gain access to the ,habitation of holiness and beauty4 ,happy is the wayfarer that directeth his steps towards this city1 that gaineth admittance into it1 and quaffeth the wine of reunion1 through the outpouring grace of his ,lord1 the ,gracious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,i am come to thee1 ,o land of the heart's desire1 with tidings from ,god1 and announce to thee ,his gracious favor and mercy1 and greet and magnify thee in ,his name4 ,he1 in truth1 is of immense bounteousness and goodness4 ,blessed be the man that turneth his face towards thee1 that perceiveth from thee the fragrance of ,god's ,presence1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,his glory be on thee1 and the brightness of ,his light envelop thee1 inasmuch as ,god hath made thee a paradise unto ,his servants1 and proclaimed thee to be the blest and sacred land of which ,he1 ,himself1 hath made mention in the ,books which ,his ,prophets and ,messengers have revealed4 ,through thee1 ,o land of resplendent glory1 the ensign1 8,there is none other ,god but ,him10 hath been unfurled1 and the standard1 8,verily ,i am the ,truth1 the ,knower of things unseen10 been hoisted4 ,it behoveth every one that visiteth thee to glory in thee and in them that inhabit thee1 that have branched from ,my ,tree1 who are the leaves thereof1 who are the signs of ,my glory1 who follow ,me and are ,my lovers1 and who1 with the most mighty determination1 have turned their faces in the direction of ,my glorious station4 ,,lxv3 ,,call ,,thou ,,to ,,remembrance ,,thine ,,arrival ,,in444 ,call ,thou to remembrance ,thine arrival in the ,city 7,constantinople71 how the ,ministers of the ,suln thought ,thee to be unacquainted with their laws and regulations1 and believed ,thee to be one of the ignorant4 ,say3 ,yes1 by ,my ,lord6 ,i am ignorant of all things except what ,god hath1 through ,his bountiful favor1 been pleased to teach ,me4 ,to this ,we assuredly testify1 and unhesitatingly confess it4 ,say3 ,if the laws and regulations to which ye cleave be of your own making1 ,we will1 in no wise1 follow them4 ,thus have ,i been instructed by ,him ,who is the ,all-,wise1 the ,all-,informed4 ,such hath been ,my way in the past1 and such will it remain in the future1 through the power of ,god and ,his might4 ,this1 indeed1 is the true and right way4 ,if they be ordained by ,god1 bring forth1 then1 your proofs1 if ye be of them that speak the truth4 ,say3 ,we have written down in a ,book which leaveth not unrecorded the work of any man1 however insignificant1 all that they have imputed to ,thee1 and all that they have done unto ,thee4 ,say3 ,it behoveth you1 ,o ,ministers of ,state1 to keep the precepts of ,god1 and to forsake your own laws and regulations1 and to be of them who are guided aright4 ,better is this for you than all ye possess1 did ye but know it4 ,if ye transgress the commandment of ,god1 not one jot or one tittle of all your works shall be acceptable in ,his sight4 ,ye shall1 erelong1 discover the consequences of that which ye shall have done in this vain life1 and shall be repaid for them4 ,this1 verily1 is the truth1 the undoubted truth4 ,how great the number of those who1 in bygone ages1 have committed the things ye have committed1 and who1 though superior to you in rank1 have1 in the end1 returned unto dust1 and been consigned to their inevitable doom6 ,would that ye might ponder the ,cause of ,god in your hearts6 ,ye shall follow in their wake1 and shall be made to enter a habitation wherein none shall be found to befriend or help you4 ,ye shall1 of a truth1 be asked of your doings1 shall be called to account for your failure in duty with regard to the ,cause of ,god1 and for having disdainfully rejected ,his loved ones who1 with manifest sincerity1 have come unto you4 ,it is ye who have taken counsel together regarding them1 ye that have preferred to follow the promptings of your own desires1 and forsaken the commandment of ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,almighty4 ,say3 ,what6 ,cleave ye to your own devices1 and cast behind your backs the precepts of ,god8 ,ye1 indeed1 have wronged your own selves and others4 ,would that ye could perceive it6 ,say3 ,if your rules and principles be founded on justice1 why is it1 then1 that ye follow those which accord with your corrupt inclinations and reject such as conflict with your desires8 ,by what right claim ye1 then1 to judge fairly between men8 ,are your rules and principles such as to justify your persecution of ,him ,who1 at your bidding1 hath presented ,himself before you1 your rejection of ,him1 and your infliction on ,him every day of grievous injury8 ,hath ,he ever1 though it be for one short moment1 disobeyed you8 ,all the inhabitants of #8,irq1 and beyond them every discerning observer1 will bear witness to the truth of ,my words4 ,be fair in your judgment1 ,o ye ,ministers of ,state6 ,what is it that ,we have committed that could justify ,our banishment8 ,what is the offense that hath warranted ,our expulsion8 ,it is ,we ,who have sought you1 and yet1 behold how ye refused to receive ,us6 ,by ,god6 ,this is a sore injustice that ye have perpetrated--an injustice with which no earthly injustice can measure4 ,to this the ,almighty is ,himself a witness4444 ,know ye that the world and its vanities and its embellishments shall pass away4 ,nothing will endure except ,god's ,kingdom which pertaineth to none but ,him1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,almighty4 ,the days of your life shall roll away1 and all the things with which ye are occupied and of which ye boast yourselves shall perish1 and ye shall1 most certainly1 be summoned by a company of ,his angels to appear at the spot where the limbs of the entire creation shall be made to tremble1 and the flesh of every oppressor to creep4 ,ye shall be asked of the things your hands have wrought in this1 your vain life1 and shall be repaid for your doings4 ,this is the day that shall inevitably come upon you1 the hour that none can put back4 ,to this the ,tongue of ,him that speaketh the truth and is the ,knower of all things hath testified4 ,,lxvi3 ,,fear ,,god1 ,,ye ,,inhabitants ,,of ,,the ,,city 7,,constantinople71444 ,fear ,god1 ye inhabitants of the ,city 7,constantinople71 and sow not the seeds of dissension amongst men4 ,walk not in the paths of the ,evil ,one4 ,walk ye1 during the few remaining days of your life1 in the ways of the one true ,god4 ,your days shall pass away as have the days of them who were before you4 ,to dust shall ye return1 even as your fathers of old did return4 ,know ye that ,i am afraid of none except ,god4 ,in none but ,him have ,i placed ,my trust2 to none will ,i cleave but ,him1 and wish for naught except the thing ,he hath wished for ,me4 ,this1 indeed1 is ,my heart's desire1 did ye but know it4 ,i have offered up ,my soul and ,my body as a sacrifice for ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,whoso hath known ,god shall know none but ,him1 and he that feareth ,god shall be afraid of no one except ,him1 though the powers of the whole earth rise up and be arrayed against him4 ,i speak naught except at ,his bidding1 and follow not1 through the power of ,god and ,his might1 except ,his truth4 ,he1 verily1 shall recompense the truthful4 ,narrate1 ,o ,servant1 the things ,thou didst behold at the time of ,thine arrival in the ,city1 that ,thy testimony may endure amongst men1 and serve as a warning unto them that believe4 ,we found1 upon ,our arrival in the ,city1 its governors and elders as children gathered about and disporting themselves with clay4 ,we perceived no one sufficiently mature to acquire from ,us the truths which ,god hath taught ,us1 nor ripe for ,our wondrous words of wisdom4 ,our inner eye wept sore over them1 and over their transgressions and their total disregard of the thing for which they were created4 ,this is what ,we observed in that ,city1 and which ,we have chosen to note down in ,our ,book1 that it may serve as a warning unto them1 and unto the rest of mankind4 ,say3 ,if ye be seekers after this life and the vanities thereof1 ye should have sought them while ye were still enclosed in your mothers' wombs1 for at that time ye were continually approaching them1 could ye but perceive it4 ,ye have1 on the other hand1 ever since ye were born and attained maturity1 been all the while receding from the world and drawing closer to dust4 ,why1 then1 exhibit such greed in amassing the treasures of the earth1 when your days are numbered and your chance is well-nigh lost8 ,will ye not1 then1 ,o heedless ones1 shake off your slumber8 ,incline your ears to the counsels which this ,servant giveth you for the sake of ,god4 ,he1 verily1 asketh no recompense from you and is resigned to what ,god hath ordained for ,him1 and is entirely submissive to ,god's ,will4 ,the days of your life are far spent1 ,o people1 and your end is fast approaching4 ,put away1 therefore1 the things ye have devised and to which ye cleave1 and take firm hold on the precepts of ,god1 that haply ye may attain that which ,he hath purposed for you1 and be of them that pursue a right course4 ,delight not yourselves in the things of the world and its vain ornaments1 neither set your hopes on them4 ,let your reliance be on the remembrance of ,god1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,he will1 erelong1 bring to naught all the things ye possess4 ,let ,him be your fear1 and forget not ,his covenant with you1 and be not of them that are shut out as by a veil from ,him4 ,beware that ye swell not with pride before ,god1 and disdainfully reject ,his loved ones4 ,defer ye humbly to the faithful1 they that have believed in ,god and in ,his signs1 whose hearts witness to ,his unity1 whose tongues proclaim ,his oneness1 and who speak not except by ,his leave4 ,thus do ,we exhort you with justice1 and warn you with truth1 that perchance ye may be awakened4 ,lay not on any soul a load which ye would not wish to be laid upon you1 and desire not for any one the things ye would not desire for yourselves4 ,this is ,my best counsel unto you1 did ye but observe it4 ,respect ye the divines and learned amongst you1 they whose conduct accords with their professions1 who transgress not the bounds which ,god hath fixed1 whose judgments are in conformity with ,his behests as revealed in ,his ,book4 ,know ye that they are the lamps of guidance unto them that are in the heavens and on the earth4 ,they who disregard and neglect the divines and learned that live amongst them--these have truly changed the favor with which ,god hath favored them4 ,say3 ,await ye till ,god will have changed ,his favor unto you4 ,nothing whatsoever escapeth ,him4 ,he knoweth the secrets both of the heavens and of the earth4 ,his knowledge embraceth all things4 ,rejoice not in what ye have done1 or will do in the future1 nor delight in the tribulation with which ye have afflicted ,us1 for ye are unable by such means as these to exalt your stations1 were ye to examine your works with acute discernment4 ,neither will ye be capable of detracting from the loftiness of ,our state4 ,nay1 ,god will add unto the recompense with which ,he shall reward ,us1 for having sustained with persevering patience the tribulations ,we have suffered4 ,he1 verily1 shall increase the reward of them that endure with patience4 ,know ye that trials and tribulations have1 from time immemorial1 been the lot of the chosen ,ones of ,god and ,his beloved1 and such of ,his servants as are detached from all else but ,him1 they whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of the ,almighty1 they that speak not till ,he hath spoken1 and act according to ,his commandment4 ,such is ,god's method carried into effect of old1 and such will it remain in the future4 ,blessed are the steadfastly enduring1 they that are patient under ills and hardships1 who lament not over anything that befalleth them1 and who tread the path of resignation4444 ,the day is approaching when ,god will have raised up a people who will call to remembrance ,our days1 who will tell the tale of ,our trials1 who will demand the restitution of ,our rights from them that1 without a tittle of evidence1 have treated ,us with manifest injustice4 ,god1 assuredly1 dominateth the lives of them that wronged ,us1 and is well aware of their doings4 ,he will1 most certainly1 lay hold on them for their sins4 ,he1 verily1 is the fiercest of avengers4 ,thus have ,we recounted unto you the tales of the one true ,god1 and sent down unto you the things ,he had preordained1 that haply ye may ask forgiveness of ,him1 may return unto ,him1 may truly repent1 may realize your misdeeds1 may shake off your slumber1 may be roused from your heedlessness1 may atone for the things that have escaped you1 and be of them that do good4 ,let him who will1 acknowledge the truth of ,my words2 and as to him that willeth not1 let him turn aside4 ,my sole duty is to remind you of your failure in duty towards the ,cause of ,god1 if perchance ye may be of them that heed ,my warning4 ,wherefore1 hearken ye unto ,my speech1 and return ye to ,god and repent1 that ,he1 through ,his grace1 may have mercy upon you1 may wash away your sins1 and forgive your trespasses4 ,the greatness of ,his mercy surpasseth the fury of ,his wrath1 and ,his grace encompasseth all who have been called into being and been clothed with the robe of life1 be they of the past or of the future4 ,,lxvii3 ,,there ,,hath ,,appeared ,,in ,,this ,,revelation444 ,there hath appeared in this ,revelation what hath never appeared before4 ,as to the infidels that have witnessed what hath been manifested1 they murmur and say3 8,verily1 this is a sorcerer who hath devised a lie against ,god40 ,they are indeed an outcast people4 ,tell out to the nations1 ,o ,pen of the ,ancient of ,days1 the things that have happened in #8,irq4 ,tell them of the messenger whom the congregation of the divines of that land had delegated to meet ,us1 who1 when attaining ,our presence1 questioned ,us concerning certain sciences1 and whom ,we answered by virtue of the knowledge ,we inherently possess4 ,thy ,lord is1 verily1 the ,knower of things unseen4 8,we testify10 said he1 8that the knowledge ,thou dost possess is such as none can rival4 ,such a knowledge1 however1 is insufficient to vindicate the exalted station which the people ascribe to ,thee4 ,produce1 if ,thou speakest the truth1 what the combined forces of the peoples of the earth are powerless to produce40 ,thus was it irrevocably decreed in the court of the presence of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,loving4 8,witness6 ,what is it thou seest80 ,he was dumbfounded4 ,and when he came to himself1 he said3 8,i truly believe in ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,praised40 8,go thou to the people1 and tell them3 #8,ask whatsoever ye please4 ,powerful is ,he to do what ,he willeth4 ,nothing whatsoever1 be it of the past or of the future1 can frustrate ,his ,will4' ,say3 #8,o ye congregation of the divines6 ,choose any matter ye desire1 and ask your ,lord1 the ,god of ,mercy1 to reveal it unto you4 ,if ,he fulfil your wish1 by virtue of ,his sovereignty1 believe ye then in ,him1 and be not of those that reject ,his truth4'0 8,the dawn of understanding hath now broken10 said he1 8and the testimony of the ,all-,merciful is fulfilled40 ,he arose and returned unto them that sent him1 at the bidding of ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,well-,beloved4 ,days passed and he failed to come back to ,us4 ,eventually1 there came another messenger who informed ,us that the people had given up what they originally had purposed4 ,they are indeed a contemptible people4 ,this is what happened in #8,irq1 and to what ,i reveal ,i ,myself am witness4 ,this happening was noised abroad1 yet none was found to comprehend its meaning4 ,thus did ,we ordain it4 ,would that ye knew this6 ,by ,my ,self6 ,whoso hath in bygone ages asked ,us to produce the signs of ,god1 hath1 no sooner ,we revealed them to him1 repudiated ,god's truth4 ,the people1 however1 have1 for the most part1 remained heedless4 ,they whose eyes are illumined with the light of understanding will perceive the sweet savors of the ,all-,merciful1 and will embrace ,his truth4 ,these are they who are truly sincere4 ,,lxviii3 ,o ,,thou ,,who ,,art ,,the ,,fruit ,,of ,,my ,,tree ,,and444 ,o thou who art the fruit of ,my ,tree and the leaf thereof6 ,on thee be ,my glory and ,my mercy4 ,let not thine heart grieve over what hath befallen thee4 ,wert thou to scan the pages of the ,book of ,life1 thou wouldst1 most certainly1 discover that which would dissipate thy sorrows and dissolve thine anguish4 ,know thou1 ,o fruit of ,my ,tree1 that the decrees of the ,sovereign ,ordainer1 as related to fate and predestination1 are of two kinds4 ,both are to be obeyed and accepted4 ,the one is irrevocable1 the other is1 as termed by men1 impending4 ,to the former all must unreservedly submit1 inasmuch as it is fixed and settled4 ,god1 however1 is able to alter or repeal it4 ,as the harm that must result from such a change will be greater than if the decree had remained unaltered1 all1 therefore1 should willingly acquiesce in what ,god hath willed and confidently abide by the same4 ,the decree that is impending1 however1 is such that prayer and entreaty can succeed in averting it4 ,god grant that thou who art the fruit of ,my ,tree1 and they that are associated with thee1 may be shielded from its evil consequences4 ,say3 ,o ,god1 my ,god6 ,thou hast committed into mine hands a trust from ,thee1 and hast now according to the good-pleasure of ,thy ,will called it back to ,thyself4 ,it is not for me1 who am a handmaid of ,thine1 to say1 whence is this to me or wherefore hath it happened1 inasmuch as ,thou art glorified in all ,thine acts1 and art to be obeyed in ,thy decree4 ,thine handmaid1 ,o my ,lord1 hath set her hopes on ,thy grace and bounty4 ,grant that she may obtain that which will draw her nigh unto ,thee1 and will profit her in every world of ,thine4 ,thou art the ,forgiving1 the ,all-,bountiful4 ,there is none other ,god but ,thee1 the ,ordainer1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,vouchsafe ,thy blessings1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god1 unto them that have quaffed the wine of ,thy love before the face of men1 and1 in spite of ,thine enemies1 have acknowledged ,thy unity1 testified to ,thy oneness1 and confessed their belief in that which hath made the limbs of the oppressors among ,thy creatures to quake1 and the flesh of the proud ones of the earth to tremble4 ,i bear witness that ,thy ,sovereignty can never perish1 nor ,thy ,will be altered4 ,ordain for them that have set their faces towards ,thee1 and for ,thine handmaids that have held fast by ,thy ,cord1 that which beseemeth the ,ocean of ,thy bounty and the ,heaven of ,thy grace4 ,thou art ,he1 ,o ,god1 ,who hath proclaimed ,himself as the ,lord of ,wealth1 and characterized all that serve ,him as poor and needy4 ,even as ,thou hast written3 8,o ye that believe6 ,ye are but paupers in need of ,god2 but ,god is the ,all-,possessing1 the ,all-,praised40 ,having acknowledged my poverty1 and recognized ,thy wealth1 suffer me not to be deprived of the glory of ,thy riches4 ,thou art1 verily1 the ,supreme ,protector1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,lxix3 ,,call ,,thou ,,to ,,mind ,,the ,,behavior ,,of ,a,,sh,,raf',s444 ,call thou to mind the behavior of ,ashraf's mother1 whose son laid down his life in the ,land of ,z 7,zanjn74 ,he1 most certainly1 is in the seat of truth1 in the presence of ,one ,who is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty4 ,when the infidels1 so unjustly1 decided to put him to death1 they sent and fetched his mother1 that perchance she might admonish him1 and induce him to recant his faith1 and follow in the footsteps of them that have repudiated the truth of ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,no sooner did she behold the face of her son1 than she spoke to him such words as caused the hearts of the lovers of ,god1 and beyond them those of the ,concourse on high1 to cry out and be sore pained with grief4 ,truly1 thy ,lord knoweth what ,my tongue speaketh4 ,he ,himself beareth witness to ,my words4 ,and when addressing him she said3 8,my son1 mine own son6 ,fail not to offer up thyself in the path of thy ,lord4 ,beware that thou betray not thy faith in ,him before ,whose face have bowed down in adoration all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,go thou straight on1 ,o my son1 and persevere in the path of the ,lord1 thy ,god4 ,haste thee to attain the presence of ,him ,who is the ,well-,beloved of all worlds40 ,on her be ,my blessings1 and ,my mercy1 and ,my praise1 and ,my glory4 ,i ,myself shall atone for the loss of her son--a son who now dwelleth within the tabernacle of ,my majesty and glory1 and whose face beameth with a light that envelopeth with its radiance the ,maids of ,heaven in their celestial chambers1 and beyond them the inmates of ,my ,paradise1 and the denizens of the ,cities of ,holiness4 ,were any eye to gaze on his face1 he would exclaim3 8,lo1 this is no other than a noble angel60 ,,lxx3 ,,the ,,world',s ,,equilibrium ,,hath ,,been ,,upset444 ,the world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great1 this new ,world ,order4 ,mankind's ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique1 this wondrous ,system--the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed4 ,immerse yourselves in the ocean of ,my words1 that ye may unravel its secrets1 and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths4 ,take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this ,cause--a ,cause through which the potentialities of the might of ,god have been revealed1 and ,his sovereignty established4 ,with faces beaming with joy1 hasten ye unto ,him4 ,this is the changeless ,faith of ,god1 eternal in the past1 eternal in the future4 ,let him that seeketh1 attain it2 and as to him that hath refused to seek it--verily1 ,god is ,self-,sufficient1 above any need of ,his creatures4 ,say3 ,this is the infallible ,balance which the ,hand of ,god is holding1 in which all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth are weighed1 and their fate determined1 if ye be of them that believe and recognize this truth4 ,say3 ,through it the poor have been enriched1 the learned enlightened1 and the seekers enabled to ascend unto the presence of ,god4 ,beware1 lest ye make it a cause of dissension amongst you4 ,be ye as firmly settled as the immovable mountain in the ,cause of your ,lord1 the ,mighty1 the ,loving4 ,,lxxi3 ,,be ,,not ,,dismayed1 ,o ,,peoples ,,of ,,the ,,world1444 ,be not dismayed1 ,o peoples of the world1 when the day star of ,my beauty is set1 and the heaven of ,my tabernacle is concealed from your eyes4 ,arise to further ,my ,cause1 and to exalt ,my ,word amongst men4 ,we are with you at all times1 and shall strengthen you through the power of truth4 ,we are truly almighty4 ,whoso hath recognized ,me1 will arise and serve ,me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose4 ,the peoples of the world are fast asleep4 ,were they to wake from their slumber1 they would hasten with eagerness unto ,god1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,they would cast away everything they possess1 be it all the treasures of the earth1 that their ,lord may remember them to the extent of addressing to them but one word4 ,such is the instruction given you by ,him ,who holdeth the knowledge of things hidden1 in a ,tablet which the eye of creation hath not seen1 and which is revealed to none except ,his own ,self1 the omnipotent protector of all worlds4 ,so bewildered are they in the drunkenness of their evil desires1 that they are powerless to recognize the ,lord of all being1 ,whose voice calleth aloud from every direction3 8,there is none other ,god but ,me1 the ,mighty1 the ,all-,wise40 ,say3 ,rejoice not in the things ye possess2 tonight they are yours1 tomorrow others will possess them4 ,thus warneth you ,he ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,informed4 ,say3 ,can ye claim that what ye own is lasting or secure8 ,nay6 ,by ,myself1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,the days of your life flee away as a breath of wind1 and all your pomp and glory shall be folded up as were the pomp and glory of those gone before you4 ,reflect1 ,o people6 ,what hath become of your bygone days1 your lost centuries8 ,happy the days that have been consecrated to the remembrance of ,god1 and blessed the hours which have been spent in praise of ,him ,who is the ,all-,wise4 ,by ,my life6 ,neither the pomp of the mighty1 nor the wealth of the rich1 nor even the ascendancy of the ungodly will endure4 ,all will perish1 at a word from ,him4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,powerful1 the ,all-,compelling1 the ,almighty4 ,what advantage is there in the earthly things which men possess8 ,that which shall profit them1 they have utterly neglected4 ,erelong1 they will awake from their slumber1 and find themselves unable to obtain that which hath escaped them in the days of their ,lord1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,praised4 ,did they but know it1 they would renounce their all1 that their names may be mentioned before ,his throne4 ,they1 verily1 are accounted among the dead4 ,,lxxii3 ,,let ,,not ,,your ,,hearts ,,be ,,perturbed1 ,o ,,people1444 ,let not your hearts be perturbed1 ,o people1 when the glory of ,my ,presence is withdrawn1 and the ocean of ,my utterance is stilled4 ,in ,my presence amongst you there is a wisdom1 and in ,my absence there is yet another1 inscrutable to all but ,god1 the ,incomparable1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,verily1 ,we behold you from ,our realm of glory1 and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of ,our ,cause with the hosts of the ,concourse on high and a company of ,our favored angels4 ,o peoples of the earth6 ,god1 the ,eternal ,truth1 is ,my witness that streams of fresh and soft-flowing waters have gushed from the rocks1 through the sweetness of the words uttered by your ,lord1 the ,unconstrained2 and still ye slumber4 ,cast away that which ye possess1 and1 on the wings of detachment1 soar beyond all created things4 ,thus biddeth you the ,lord of creation1 the movement of ,whose ,pen hath revolutionized the soul of mankind4 ,know ye from what heights your ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious is calling8 ,think ye that ye have recognized the ,pen wherewith your ,lord1 the ,lord of all names1 commandeth you8 ,nay1 by ,my life6 ,did ye but know it1 ye would renounce the world1 and would hasten with your whole hearts to the presence of the ,well-,beloved4 ,your spirits would be so transported by ,his ,word as to throw into commotion the ,greater ,world--how much more this small and petty one6 ,thus have the showers of ,my bounty been poured down from the heaven of ,my loving-kindness1 as a token of ,my grace2 that ye may be of the thankful4444 ,beware lest the desires of the flesh and of a corrupt inclination provoke divisions among you4 ,be ye as the fingers of one hand1 the members of one body4 ,thus counselleth you the ,pen of ,revelation1 if ye be of them that believe4 ,consider the mercy of ,god and ,his gifts4 ,he enjoineth upon you that which shall profit you1 though ,he ,himself can well dispense with all creatures4 ,your evil doings can never harm ,us1 neither can your good works profit ,us4 ,we summon you wholly for the sake of ,god4 ,to this every man of understanding and insight will testify4 ,,lxxiii3 ,,it ,,is ,,clear ,,and ,,evident ,,that ,,when ,,the ,,veils444 ,it is clear and evident that when the veils that conceal the realities of the manifestations of the ,names and ,attributes of ,god1 nay of all created things visible or invisible1 have been rent asunder1 nothing except the ,sign of ,god will remain--a sign which ,he1 ,himself1 hath placed within these realities4 ,this sign will endure as long as is the wish of the ,lord thy ,god1 the ,lord of the heavens and of the earth4 ,if such be the blessings conferred on all created things1 how superior must be the destiny of the true believer1 whose existence and life are to be regarded as the originating purpose of all creation4 ,just as the conception of faith hath existed from the beginning that hath no beginning1 and will endure till the end that hath no end1 in like manner will the true believer eternally live and endure4 ,his spirit will everlastingly circle round the ,will of ,god4 ,he will last as long as ,god1 ,himself1 will last4 ,he is revealed through the ,revelation of ,god1 and is hidden at ,his bidding4 ,it is evident that the loftiest mansions in the ,realm of ,immortality have been ordained as the habitation of them that have truly believed in ,god and in ,his signs4 ,death can never invade that holy seat4 ,thus have ,we entrusted thee with the signs of thy ,lord1 that thou mayest persevere in thy love for ,him1 and be of them that comprehend this truth4 ,,lxxiv3 ,,every ,,word ,,that ,,proceedeth ,,out ,,of ,,the444 ,every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame1 if ye be of them that comprehend this truth4 ,all the wondrous works ye behold in this world have been manifested through the operation of ,his supreme and most exalted ,will1 ,his wondrous and inflexible ,purpose4 ,through the mere revelation of the word 8,fashioner10 issuing forth from ,his lips and proclaiming ,his attribute to mankind1 such power is released as can generate1 through successive ages1 all the manifold arts which the hands of man can produce4 ,this1 verily1 is a certain truth4 ,no sooner is this resplendent word uttered1 than its animating energies1 stirring within all created things1 give birth to the means and instruments whereby such arts can be produced and perfected4 ,all the wondrous achievements ye now witness are the direct consequences of the ,revelation of this ,name4 ,in the days to come1 ye will1 verily1 behold things of which ye have never heard before4 ,thus hath it been decreed in the ,tablets of ,god1 and none can comprehend it except them whose sight is sharp4 ,in like manner1 the moment the word expressing ,my attribute 8,the ,omniscient0 issueth forth from ,my mouth1 every created thing will1 according to its capacity and limitations1 be invested with the power to unfold the knowledge of the most marvelous sciences1 and will be empowered to manifest them in the course of time at the bidding of ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,know thou of a certainty that the ,revelation of every other ,name is accompanied by a similar manifestation of ,divine power4 ,every single letter proceeding out of the mouth of ,god is indeed a mother letter1 and every word uttered by ,him ,who is the ,well ,spring of ,divine ,revelation is a mother word1 and ,his ,tablet a ,mother ,tablet4 ,well is it with them that apprehend this truth4 ,,lxxv3 ,,tear ,,asunder1 ,,in ,,my ,,name1 ,,the ,,veils ,,that444 ,tear asunder1 in ,my ,name1 the veils that have grievously blinded your vision1 and1 through the power born of your belief in the unity of ,god1 scatter the idols of vain imitation4 ,enter1 then1 the holy paradise of the good-pleasure of the ,all-,merciful4 ,sanctify your souls from whatsoever is not of ,god1 and taste ye the sweetness of rest within the pale of ,his vast and mighty ,revelation1 and beneath the shadow of ,his supreme and infallible authority4 ,suffer not yourselves to be wrapt in the dense veils of your selfish desires1 inasmuch as ,i have perfected in every one of you ,my creation1 so that the excellence of ,my handiwork may be fully revealed unto men4 ,it follows1 therefore1 that every man hath been1 and will continue to be1 able of himself to appreciate the ,beauty of ,god1 the ,glorified4 ,had he not been endowed with such a capacity1 how could he be called to account for his failure8 ,if1 in the ,day when all the peoples of the earth will be gathered together1 any man should1 whilst standing in the presence of ,god1 be asked3 8,wherefore hast thou disbelieved in ,my ,beauty and turned away from ,my ,self10 and if such a man should reply and say3 8,inasmuch as all men have erred1 and none hath been found willing to turn his face to the ,truth1 ,i1 too1 following their example1 have grievously failed to recognize the ,beauty of the ,eternal10 such a plea will1 assuredly1 be rejected4 ,for the faith of no man can be conditioned by any one except himself4 ,this is one of the verities that lie enshrined in ,my ,revelation--a verity which ,i have revealed in all the heavenly ,books1 which ,i have caused the ,tongue of ,grandeur to utter1 and the ,pen of ,power to inscribe4 ,ponder a while thereon1 that with both your inner and outer eye1 ye may perceive the subtleties of ,divine wisdom and discover the gems of heavenly knowledge which1 in clear and weighty language1 ,i have revealed in this exalted and incorruptible ,tablet1 and that ye may not stray far from the ,all-,highest ,throne1 from the ,tree beyond which there is no passing1 from the ,habitation of everlasting might and glory4 ,the signs of ,god shine as manifest and resplendent as the sun amidst the works of ,his creatures4 ,whatsoever proceedeth from ,him is apart1 and will always remain distinguished1 from the inventions of men4 ,from the ,source of ,his knowledge countless ,luminaries of learning and wisdom have risen1 and out of the ,paradise of ,his ,pen the breath of the ,all-,merciful hath continually been wafted to the hearts and souls of men4 ,happy are they that have recognized this truth4 ,,lxxvi3 ,,give ,,ear1 ,o ,,my ,,servant1 ,,unto ,,that ,,which444 ,give ear1 ,o ,my servant1 unto that which is being sent down unto thee from the ,throne of thy ,lord1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,most ,great4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him4 ,he hath called into being ,his creatures1 that they may know ,him1 ,who is the ,compassionate1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,unto the cities of all nations ,he hath sent ,his ,messengers1 ,whom ,he hath commissioned to announce unto men tidings of the ,paradise of ,his good pleasure1 and to draw them nigh unto the ,haven of abiding security1 the ,seat of eternal holiness and transcendent glory4 ,some were guided by the ,light of ,god1 gained admittance into the court of ,his presence1 and quaffed1 from the hand of resignation1 the waters of everlasting life1 and were accounted of them that have truly recognized and believed in ,him4 ,others rebelled against ,him1 and rejected the signs of ,god1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise4 ,ages rolled away1 until they attained their consummation in this1 the ,lord of days1 the ,day whereon the ,day ,star of the ,bayn manifested itself above the horizon of mercy1 the ,day in which the ,beauty of the ,all-,glorious shone forth in the exalted person of #8,al-,muammad1 the ,bb4 ,no sooner did ,he reveal ,himself1 than all the people rose up against ,him4 ,by some ,he was denounced as one that hath uttered slanders against ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,others regarded ,him as a man smitten with madness1 an allegation which ,i1 ,myself1 have heard from the lips of one of the divines4 ,still others disputed ,his claim to be the ,mouthpiece of ,god1 and stigmatized ,him as one who had stolen and used as his the words of the ,almighty1 who had perverted their meaning1 and mingled them with his own4 ,the ,eye of ,grandeur weepeth sore for the things which their mouths have uttered1 while they continue to rejoice upon their seats4 8,god10 said ,he1 8is ,my witness1 ,o people6 ,i am come to you with a ,revelation from the ,lord1 your ,god1 the ,lord of your fathers of old4 ,look not1 ,o people1 at the things ye possess4 ,look rather at the things ,god hath sent down unto you4 ,this1 surely1 will be better for you than the whole of creation1 could ye but perceive it4 ,repeat the gaze1 ,o people1 and consider the testimony of ,god and ,his proof which are in your possession1 and compare them unto the ,revelation sent down unto you in this ,day1 that the truth1 the infallible truth1 may be indubitably manifested unto you4 ,follow not1 ,o people1 the steps of the ,evil ,one2 follow ye the ,faith of the ,all-,merciful1 and be ye of them that truly believe4 ,what would it profit man1 if he were to fail to recognize the ,revelation of ,god8 ,nothing whatever4 ,to this ,mine own ,self1 the ,omnipotent1 the ,omniscient1 the ,all-,wise1 will testify40 ,the more ,he exhorted them1 the fiercer grew their enmity1 till1 at the last1 they put ,him to death with shameful cruelty4 ,the curse of ,god be upon the oppressors6 ,a few believed in ,him2 few of ,our servants are the thankful4 ,these ,he admonished1 in all ,his ,tablets--nay1 in every passage of ,his wondrous writings--not to give themselves up in the ,day of the promised ,revelation to anything whatever1 be it in the heaven or in the earth4 8,o people60 said ,he1 8,i have revealed ,myself for ,his ,manifestation1 and have caused ,my ,book1 the ,bayn1 to descend upon you for no other purpose except to establish the truth of ,his ,cause4 ,fear ye ,god1 and contend not with ,him as the people of the ,qur'n have contended with ,me4 ,at whatever time ye hear of ,him1 hasten ye towards ,him1 and cleave ye to whatsoever ,he may reveal unto you4 ,naught else besides ,him can ever profit you1 no1 not though ye produce from first to last the testimonies of all those who were before you40 ,and when after the lapse of a few years the heaven of ,divine decree was cleft asunder1 and the ,beauty of the ,bb appeared in the clouds of the names of ,god1 arrayed in a new raiment1 these same people maliciously rose up against ,him1 ,whose light embraceth all created things4 ,they broke ,his ,covenant1 rejected ,his truth1 contended with ,him1 caviled at ,his signs1 treated ,his testimony as falsehood1 and joined the company of the infidels4 ,eventually1 they determined to take away ,his life4 ,such is the state of them who are in a far-gone error6 ,and when they realized their powerlessness to achieve their purpose1 they arose to plot against ,him4 ,witness how every moment they devise a fresh device to harm ,him1 that they may injure and dishonor the cause of ,god4 ,say3 ,woe be to you6 ,by ,god6 ,your schemings cover you with shame4 ,your ,lord1 the ,god of mercy1 can well dispense with all creatures4 ,nothing whatever can either increase or diminish the things ,he doth possess4 ,if ye believe1 to your own behoof will ye believe2 and if ye believe not1 ye yourselves will suffer4 ,at no time can the hand of the infidel profane the hem of ,his ,robe4 ,o ,my servant that believest in ,god6 ,by the righteousness of the ,almighty6 ,were ,i to recount to thee the tale of the things that have befallen ,me1 the souls and minds of men would be incapable of sustaining its weight4 ,god ,himself beareth ,me witness4 ,watch over thyself1 and follow not the footsteps of these people4 ,meditate diligently upon the ,cause of thy ,lord4 ,strive to know ,him through ,his own ,self and not through others4 ,for no one else besides ,him can ever profit thee4 ,to this all created things will testify1 couldst thou but perceive it4 ,emerge from behind the veil1 by the leave of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,powerful1 and seize1 before the eyes of those who are in the heavens and those who are on the earth1 the ,chalice of ,immortality1 in the name of thy ,lord1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,most ,high1 and quaff thy fill1 and be not of them that tarry4 ,i swear by ,god6 ,the moment thou touchest the ,cup with thy lips1 the ,concourse on high will acclaim thee saying1 8,drink with healthy relish1 ,o man that hast truly believed in ,god60 and the inhabitants of the ,cities of ,immortality will cry out1 8,joy be to thee1 ,o thou that hast drained the ,cup of ,his love60 and the ,tongue of ,grandeur will hail thee1 8,great is the blessedness that awaiteth thee1 ,o ,my servant1 for thou hast attained unto that which none hath attained1 except such as have detached themselves from all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth1 and who are the emblems of true detachment40 ,,lxxvii3 ,,and ,,now1 ,,concerning ,,thy ,,question ,,regarding444 ,and now1 concerning thy question regarding the creation of man4 ,know thou that all men have been created in the nature made by ,god1 the ,guardian1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure1 as decreed in ,god's mighty and guarded ,tablets4 ,all that which ye potentially possess can1 however1 be manifested only as a result of your own volition4 ,your own acts testify to this truth4 ,consider1 for instance1 that which hath been forbidden1 in the ,bayn1 unto men4 ,god hath in that ,book1 and by ,his behest1 decreed as lawful whatsoever ,he hath pleased to decree1 and hath1 through the power of ,his sovereign might1 forbidden whatsoever ,he elected to forbid4 ,to this testifieth the text of that ,book4 ,will ye not bear witness8 ,men1 however1 have wittingly broken ,his law4 ,is such a behavior to be attributed to ,god1 or to their proper selves8 ,be fair in your judgment4 ,every good thing is of ,god1 and every evil thing is from yourselves4 ,will ye not comprehend8 ,this same truth hath been revealed in all the ,scriptures1 if ye be of them that understand4 ,every act ye meditate is as clear to ,him as is that act when already accomplished4 ,there is none other ,god besides ,him4 ,his is all creation and its empire4 ,all stands revealed before ,him2 all is recorded in ,his holy and hidden ,tablets4 ,this fore-knowledge of ,god1 however1 should not be regarded as having caused the actions of men1 just as your own previous knowledge that a certain event is to occur1 or your desire that it should happen1 is not and can never be the reason for its occurrence4 ,,lxxviii3 ,,as ,,to ,,thy ,,question ,,concerning ,,the ,,origin444 ,as to thy question concerning the origin of creation4 ,know assuredly that ,god's creation hath existed from eternity1 and will continue to exist forever4 ,its beginning hath had no beginning1 and its end knoweth no end4 ,his name1 the ,creator1 presupposeth a creation1 even as ,his title1 the ,lord of ,men1 must involve the existence of a servant4 ,as to those sayings1 attributed to the ,prophets of old1 such as1 8,in the beginning was ,god2 there was no creature to know ,him10 and 8,the ,lord was alone2 with no one to adore ,him10 the meaning of these and similar sayings is clear and evident1 and should at no time be misapprehended4 ,to this same truth bear witness these words which ,he hath revealed3 8,god was alone2 there was none else besides ,him4 ,he will always remain what ,he hath ever been40 ,every discerning eye will readily perceive that the ,lord is now manifest1 yet there is none to recognize ,his glory4 ,by this is meant that the habitation wherein the ,divine ,being dwelleth is far above the reach and ken of any one besides ,him4 ,whatsoever in the contingent world can either be expressed or apprehended1 can never transgress the limits which1 by its inherent nature1 have been imposed upon it4 ,god1 alone1 transcendeth such limitations4 ,he1 verily1 is from everlasting4 ,no peer or partner has been1 or can ever be1 joined with ,him4 ,no name can be compared with ,his ,name4 ,no pen can portray ,his nature1 neither can any tongue depict ,his glory4 ,he will1 for ever1 remain immeasurably exalted above any one except ,himself4 ,consider the hour at which the supreme ,manifestation of ,god revealeth ,himself unto men4 ,ere that hour cometh1 the ,ancient ,being1 ,who is still unknown of men and hath not as yet given utterance to the ,word of ,god1 is ,himself the ,all-,knower in a world devoid of any man that hath known ,him4 ,he is indeed the ,creator without a creation4 ,for at the very moment preceding ,his ,revelation1 each and every created thing shall be made to yield up its soul to ,god4 ,this is indeed the ,day of which it hath been written3 8,whose shall be the ,kingdom this ,day80 ,and none can be found ready to answer6 ,,lxxix3 ,,as ,,to ,,thy ,,question ,,concerning ,,the ,,worlds444 ,as to thy question concerning the worlds of ,god4 ,know thou of a truth that the worlds of ,god are countless in their number1 and infinite in their range4 ,none can reckon or comprehend them except ,god1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,consider thy state when asleep4 ,verily1 ,i say1 this phenomenon is the most mysterious of the signs of ,god amongst men1 were they to ponder it in their hearts4 ,behold how the thing which thou hast seen in thy dream is1 after a considerable lapse of time1 fully realized4 ,had the world in which thou didst find thyself in thy dream been identical with the world in which thou livest1 it would have been necessary for the event occurring in that dream to have transpired in this world at the very moment of its occurrence4 ,were it so1 you yourself would have borne witness unto it4 ,this being not the case1 however1 it must necessarily follow that the world in which thou livest is different and apart from that which thou hast experienced in thy dream4 ,this latter world hath neither beginning nor end4 ,it would be true if thou wert to contend that this same world is1 as decreed by the ,all-,glorious and ,almighty ,god1 within thy proper self and is wrapped up within thee4 ,it would equally be true to maintain that thy spirit1 having transcended the limitations of sleep and having stripped itself of all earthly attachment1 hath1 by the act of ,god1 been made to traverse a realm which lieth hidden in the innermost reality of this world4 ,verily ,i say1 the creation of ,god embraceth worlds besides this world1 and creatures apart from these creatures4 ,in each of these worlds ,he hath ordained things which none can search except ,himself1 the ,all-,searching1 the ,all-,wise4 ,do thou meditate on that which ,we have revealed unto thee1 that thou mayest discover the purpose of ,god1 thy ,lord1 and the ,lord of all worlds4 ,in these words the mysteries of ,divine ,wisdom have been treasured4 ,we have refrained from dwelling upon this theme owing to the sorrow that hath encompassed ,us from the actions of them that have been created through ,our words1 if ye be of them that will hearken unto ,our ,voice4 ,,lxxx3 ,,thou ,,hast ,,asked ,,me ,,whether ,,man1 ,,as ,,apart444 ,thou hast asked ,me whether man1 as apart from the ,prophets of ,god and ,his chosen ones1 will retain1 after his physical death1 the self-same individuality1 personality1 consciousness1 and understanding that characterize his life in this world4 ,if this should be the case1 how is it1 thou hast observed1 that whereas such slight injuries to his mental faculties as fainting and severe illness deprive him of his understanding and consciousness1 his death1 which must involve the decomposition of his body and the dissolution of its elements1 is powerless to destroy that understanding and extinguish that consciousness8 ,how can any one imagine that man's consciousness and personality will be maintained1 when the very instruments necessary to their existence and function will have completely disintegrated8 ,know thou that the soul of man is exalted above1 and is independent of all infirmities of body or mind4 ,that a sick person showeth signs of weakness is due to the hindrances that interpose themselves between his soul and his body1 for the soul itself remaineth unaffected by any bodily ailments4 ,consider the light of the lamp4 ,though an external object may interfere with its radiance1 the light itself continueth to shine with undiminished power4 ,in like manner1 every malady afflicting the body of man is an impediment that preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might and power4 ,when it leaveth the body1 however1 it will evince such ascendancy1 and reveal such influence as no force on earth can equal4 ,every pure1 every refined and sanctified soul will be endowed with tremendous power1 and shall rejoice with exceeding gladness4 ,consider the lamp which is hidden under a bushel4 ,though its light be shining1 yet its radiance is concealed from men4 ,likewise1 consider the sun which hath been obscured by the clouds4 ,observe how its splendor appeareth to have diminished1 when in reality the source of that light hath remained unchanged4 ,the soul of man should be likened unto this sun1 and all things on earth should be regarded as his body4 ,so long as no external impediment interveneth between them1 the body will1 in its entirety1 continue to reflect the light of the soul1 and to be sustained by its power4 ,as soon as1 however1 a veil interposeth itself between them1 the brightness of that light seemeth to lessen4 ,consider again the sun when it is completely hidden behind the clouds4 ,though the earth is still illumined with its light1 yet the measure of light which it receiveth is considerably reduced4 ,not until the clouds have dispersed1 can the sun shine again in the plenitude of its glory4 ,neither the presence of the cloud nor its absence can1 in any way1 affect the inherent splendor of the sun4 ,the soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined1 and from which it draweth its sustenance1 and should be so regarded4 ,consider1 moreover1 how the fruit1 ere it is formed1 lieth potentially within the tree4 ,were the tree to be cut into pieces1 no sign nor any part of the fruit1 however small1 could be detected4 ,when it appeareth1 however1 it manifesteth itself1 as thou hast observed1 in its wondrous beauty and glorious perfection4 ,certain fruits1 indeed1 attain their fullest development only after being severed from the tree4 ,,lxxxi3 ,,and ,,now ,,concerning ,,thy ,,question ,,regarding444 ,and now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death4 ,know thou of a truth that the soul1 after its separation from the body1 will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of ,god1 in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries1 nor the changes and chances of this world1 can alter4 ,it will endure as long as the ,kingdom of ,god1 ,his sovereignty1 ,his dominion and power will endure4 ,it will manifest the signs of ,god and ,his attributes1 and will reveal ,his loving kindness and bounty4 ,the movement of ,my ,pen is stilled when it attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so exalted a station4 ,the honor with which the ,hand of ,mercy will invest the soul is such as no tongue can adequately reveal1 nor any other earthly agency describe4 ,blessed is the soul which1 at the hour of its separation from the body1 is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world4 ,such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance with the ,will of its ,creator1 and entereth the all-highest ,paradise4 ,the ,maids of ,heaven1 inmates of the loftiest mansions1 will circle around it1 and the ,prophets of ,god and ,his chosen ones will seek its companionship4 ,with them that soul will freely converse1 and will recount unto them that which it hath been made to endure in the path of ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,if any man be told that which hath been ordained for such a soul in the worlds of ,god1 the ,lord of the throne on high and of earth below1 his whole being will instantly blaze out in his great longing to attain that most exalted1 that sanctified and resplendent station4444 ,the nature of the soul after death can never be described1 nor is it meet and permissible to reveal its whole character to the eyes of men4 ,the ,prophets and ,messengers of ,god have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the straight ,path of ,truth4 ,the purpose underlying ,their revelation hath been to educate all men1 that they may1 at the hour of death1 ascend1 in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment1 to the throne of the ,most ,high4 ,the light which these souls radiate is responsible for the progress of the world and the advancement of its peoples4 ,they are like unto leaven which leaveneth the world of being1 and constitute the animating force through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest4 ,through them the clouds rain their bounty upon men1 and the earth bringeth forth its fruits4 ,all things must needs have a cause1 a motive power1 an animating principle4 ,these souls and symbols of detachment have provided1 and will continue to provide1 the supreme moving impulse in the world of being4 ,the world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother4 ,when the soul attaineth the ,presence of ,god1 it will assume the form that best befitteth its immortality and is worthy of its celestial habitation4 ,such an existence is a contingent and not an absolute existence1 inasmuch as the former is preceded by a cause1 whilst the latter is independent thereof4 ,absolute existence is strictly confined to ,god1 exalted be ,his glory4 ,well is it with them that apprehend this truth4 ,wert thou to ponder in thine heart the behavior of the ,prophets of ,god thou wouldst assuredly and readily testify that there must needs be other worlds besides this world4 ,the majority of the truly wise and learned have1 throughout the ages1 as it hath been recorded by the ,pen of ,glory in the ,tablet of ,wisdom1 borne witness to the truth of that which the holy ,writ of ,god hath revealed4 ,even the materialists have testified in their writings to the wisdom of these divinely-appointed ,messengers1 and have regarded the references made by the ,prophets to ,paradise1 to hell fire1 to future reward and punishment1 to have been actuated by a desire to educate and uplift the souls of men4 ,consider1 therefore1 how the generality of mankind1 whatever their beliefs or theories1 have recognized the excellence1 and admitted the superiority1 of these ,prophets of ,god4 ,these ,gems of ,detachment are acclaimed by some as the embodiments of wisdom1 while others believe them to be the mouthpiece of ,god ,himself4 ,how could such ,souls have consented to surrender themselves unto their enemies if they believed all the worlds of ,god to have been reduced to this earthly life8 ,would they have willingly suffered such afflictions and torments as no man hath ever experienced or witnessed8 ,,lxxxii3 ,,thou ,,hast ,,asked ,,me ,,concerning ,,the444 ,thou hast asked ,me concerning the nature of the soul4 ,know1 verily1 that the soul is a sign of ,god1 a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp1 and whose mystery no mind1 however acute1 can ever hope to unravel4 ,it is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its ,creator1 the first to recognize ,his glory1 to cleave to ,his truth1 and to bow down in adoration before ,him4 ,if it be faithful to ,god1 it will reflect ,his light1 and will1 eventually1 return unto ,him4 ,if it fail1 however1 in its allegiance to its ,creator1 it will become a victim to self and passion1 and will1 in the end1 sink in their depths4 ,whoso hath1 in this ,day1 refused to allow the doubts and fancies of men to turn him away from ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 and hath not suffered the tumult provoked by the ecclesiastical and secular authorities to deter him from recognizing ,his ,message1 such a man will be regarded by ,god1 the ,lord of all men1 as one of ,his mighty signs1 and will be numbered among them whose names have been inscribed by the ,pen of the ,most ,high in ,his ,book4 ,blessed is he that hath recognized the true stature of such a soul1 that hath acknowledged its station1 and discovered its virtues4 ,much hath been written in the books of old concerning the various stages in the development of the soul1 such as concupiscence1 irascibility1 inspiration1 benevolence1 contentment1 ,divine good-pleasure1 and the like2 the ,pen of the ,most ,high1 however1 is disinclined to dwell upon them4 ,every soul that walketh humbly with its ,god1 in this ,day1 and cleaveth unto ,him1 shall find itself invested with the honor and glory of all goodly names and stations4 ,when man is asleep1 his soul can1 in no wise1 be said to have been inherently affected by any external object4 ,it is not susceptible of any change in its original state or character4 ,any variation in its functions is to be ascribed to external causes4 ,it is to these external influences that any variations in its environment1 its understanding1 and perception should be attributed4 ,consider the human eye4 ,though it hath the faculty of perceiving all created things1 yet the slightest impediment may so obstruct its vision as to deprive it of the power of discerning any object whatsoever4 ,magnified be the name of ,him ,who hath created1 and is the ,cause of1 these causes1 ,who hath ordained that every change and variation in the world of being be made dependent upon them4 ,every created thing in the whole universe is but a door leading into ,his knowledge1 a sign of ,his sovereignty1 a revelation of ,his names1 a symbol of ,his majesty1 a token of ,his power1 a means of admittance into ,his straight ,path4444 ,verily ,i say1 the human soul is1 in its essence1 one of the signs of ,god1 a mystery among ,his mysteries4 ,it is one of the mighty signs of the ,almighty1 the harbinger that proclaimeth the reality of all the worlds of ,god4 ,within it lieth concealed that which the world is now utterly incapable of apprehending4 ,ponder in thine heart the revelation of the ,soul of ,god that pervadeth all ,his ,laws1 and contrast it with that base and appetitive nature that hath rebelled against ,him1 that forbiddeth men to turn unto the ,lord of ,names1 and impelleth them to walk after their lusts and wickedness4 ,such a soul hath1 in truth1 wandered far in the path of error444 ,thou hast1 moreover1 asked ,me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body4 ,know thou1 of a truth1 that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of ,god1 it will1 assuredly1 return and be gathered to the glory of the ,beloved4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,it shall attain a station such as no pen can depict1 or tongue describe4 ,the soul that hath remained faithful to the ,cause of ,god1 and stood unwaveringly firm in ,his ,path shall1 after his ascension1 be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the ,almighty hath created can benefit through him4 ,such a soul provideth1 at the bidding of the ,ideal ,king and ,divine ,educator1 the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being1 and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest4 ,consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with4 ,those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world4 ,meditate on this1 and be of the thankful4 ,in several of ,our ,tablets ,we have referred to this theme1 and have set forth the various stages in the development of the soul4 ,verily ,i say1 the human soul is exalted above all egress and regress4 ,it is still1 and yet it soareth2 it moveth1 and yet it is still4 ,it is1 in itself1 a testimony that beareth witness to the existence of a world that is contingent1 as well as to the reality of a world that hath neither beginning nor end4 ,behold how the dream thou hast dreamed is1 after the lapse of many years1 re-enacted before thine eyes4 ,consider how strange is the mystery of the world that appeareth to thee in thy dream4 ,ponder in thine heart upon the unsearchable wisdom of ,god1 and meditate on its manifold revelations4444 ,witness the wondrous evidences of ,god's handiwork1 and reflect upon its range and character4 ,he ,who is the ,seal of the ,prophets hath said3 8,increase my wonder and amazement at ,thee1 ,o ,god60 ,as to thy question whether the physical world is subject to any limitations1 know thou that the comprehension of this matter dependeth upon the observer himself4 ,in one sense1 it is limited2 in another1 it is exalted beyond all limitations4 ,the one true ,god hath everlastingly existed1 and will everlastingly continue to exist4 ,his creation1 likewise1 hath had no beginning1 and will have no end4 ,all that is created1 however1 is preceded by a cause4 ,this fact1 in itself1 establisheth1 beyond the shadow of a doubt1 the unity of the ,creator4 ,thou hast1 moreover1 asked ,me concerning the nature of the celestial spheres4 ,to comprehend their nature1 it would be necessary to inquire into the meaning of the allusions that have been made in the ,books of old to the celestial spheres and the heavens1 and to discover the character of their relationship to this physical world1 and the influence which they exert upon it4 ,every heart is filled with wonder at so bewildering a theme1 and every mind is perplexed by its mystery4 ,god1 alone1 can fathom its import4 ,the learned men1 that have fixed at several thousand years the life of this earth1 have failed1 throughout the long period of their observation1 to consider either the number or the age of the other planets4 ,consider1 moreover1 the manifold divergencies that have resulted from the theories propounded by these men4 ,know thou that every fixed star hath its own planets1 and every planet its own creatures1 whose number no man can compute4 ,o thou that hast fixed thine eyes upon ,my countenance6 ,the ,day ,spring of ,glory hath1 in this ,day1 manifested its radiance1 and the ,voice of the ,most ,high is calling4 ,we have formerly uttered these words3 8,this is not the day for any man to question his ,lord4 ,it behoveth whosoever hath hearkened to the ,call of ,god1 as voiced by ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of ,glory1 to arise and cry out3 #8,here am ,i1 here am ,i1 ,o ,lord of all ,names2 here am ,i1 here am ,i1 ,o ,maker of the heavens6 ,i testify that1 through ,thy ,revelation1 the things hidden in the ,books of ,god have been revealed1 and that whatsoever hath been recorded by ,thy ,messengers in the sacred ,scriptures hath been fulfilled4'0 ,,lxxxiii3 ,,consider ,,the ,,rational ,,faculty ,,with ,,which444 ,consider the rational faculty with which ,god hath endowed the essence of man4 ,examine thine own self1 and behold how thy motion and stillness1 thy will and purpose1 thy sight and hearing1 thy sense of smell and power of speech1 and whatever else is related to1 or transcendeth1 thy physical senses or spiritual perceptions1 all proceed from1 and owe their existence to1 this same faculty4 ,so closely are they related unto it1 that if in less than the twinkling of an eye its relationship to the human body be severed1 each and every one of these senses will cease immediately to exercise its function1 and will be deprived of the power to manifest the evidences of its activity4 ,it is indubitably clear and evident that each of these afore-mentioned instruments has depended1 and will ever continue to depend1 for its proper functioning on this rational faculty1 which should be regarded as a sign of the revelation of ,him ,who is the sovereign ,lord of all4 ,through its manifestation all these names and attributes have been revealed1 and by the suspension of its action they are all destroyed and perish4 ,it would be wholly untrue to maintain that this faculty is the same as the power of vision1 inasmuch as the power of vision is derived from it and acteth in dependence upon it4 ,it would1 likewise1 be idle to contend that this faculty can be identified with the sense of hearing1 as the sense of hearing receiveth from the rational faculty the requisite energy for performing its functions4 ,this same relationship bindeth this faculty with whatsoever hath been the recipient of these names and attributes within the human temple4 ,these diverse names and revealed attributes have been generated through the agency of this sign of ,god4 ,immeasurably exalted is this sign1 in its essence and reality1 above all such names and attributes4 ,nay1 all else besides it will1 when compared with its glory1 fade into utter nothingness and become a thing forgotten4 ,wert thou to ponder in thine heart1 from now until the end that hath no end1 and with all the concentrated intelligence and understanding which the greatest minds have attained in the past or will attain in the future1 this divinely ordained and subtle ,reality1 this sign of the revelation of the ,all-,abiding1 ,all-,glorious ,god1 thou wilt fail to comprehend its mystery or to appraise its virtue4 ,having recognized thy powerlessness to attain to an adequate understanding of that ,reality which abideth within thee1 thou wilt readily admit the futility of such efforts as may be attempted by thee1 or by any of the created things1 to fathom the mystery of the ,living ,god1 the ,day ,star of unfading glory1 the ,ancient of everlasting days4 ,this confession of helplessness which mature contemplation must eventually impel every mind to make is in itself the acme of human understanding1 and marketh the culmination of man's development4 ,,lxxxiv3 ,,regard ,,thou ,,the ,,one ,,true ,,god ,,as ,,one444 ,regard thou the one true ,god as ,one ,who is apart from1 and immeasurably exalted above1 all created things4 ,the whole universe reflecteth ,his glory1 while ,he is ,himself independent of1 and transcendeth ,his creatures4 ,this is the true meaning of ,divine unity4 ,he ,who is the ,eternal ,truth is the one ,power ,who exerciseth undisputed sovereignty over the world of being1 ,whose image is reflected in the mirror of the entire creation4 ,all existence is dependent upon ,him1 and from ,him is derived the source of the sustenance of all things4 ,this is what is meant by ,divine unity2 this is its fundamental principle4 ,some1 deluded by their idle fancies1 have conceived all created things as associates and partners of ,god1 and imagined themselves to be the exponents of ,his unity4 ,by ,him ,who is the one true ,god6 ,such men have been1 and will continue to remain1 the victims of blind imitation1 and are to be numbered with them that have restricted and limited the conception of ,god4 ,he is a true believer in ,divine unity who1 far from confusing duality with oneness1 refuseth to allow any notion of multiplicity to becloud his conception of the singleness of ,god1 who will regard the ,divine ,being as ,one ,who1 by ,his very nature1 transcendeth the limitations of numbers4 ,the essence of belief in ,divine unity consisteth in regarding ,him ,who is the ,manifestation of ,god and ,him ,who is the invisible1 the inaccessible1 the unknowable ,essence as one and the same4 ,by this is meant that whatever pertaineth to the former1 all ,his acts and doings1 whatever ,he ordaineth or forbiddeth1 should be considered1 in all their aspects1 and under all circumstances1 and without any reservation1 as identical with the ,will of ,god ,himself4 ,this is the loftiest station to which a true believer in the unity of ,god can ever hope to attain4 ,blessed is the man that reacheth this station1 and is of them that are steadfast in their belief4 ,,lxxxv3 ,o ,,my ,,servants6 ,,it ,,behoveth ,,you ,,to ,,refresh444 ,o ,my servants6 ,it behoveth you to refresh and revive your souls through the gracious favors which1 in this ,divine1 this soul-stirring ,springtime1 are being showered upon you4 ,the ,day ,star of ,his great glory hath shed its radiance upon you1 and the clouds of ,his limitless grace have overshadowed you4 ,how high the reward of him that hath not deprived himself of so great a bounty1 nor failed to recognize the beauty of his ,best-,beloved in this1 ,his new attire4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,the ,lamp of ,god is burning2 take heed1 lest the fierce winds of your disobedience extinguish its light4 ,now is the time to arise and magnify the ,lord1 your ,god4 ,strive not after bodily comforts1 and keep your heart pure and stainless4 ,the ,evil ,one is lying in wait1 ready to entrap you4 ,gird yourselves against his wicked devices1 and1 led by the light of the name of the one true ,god1 deliver yourselves from the darkness that surroundeth you4 ,center your thoughts in the ,well-,beloved1 rather than in your own selves4 ,say3 ,o ye that have strayed and lost your way6 ,the ,divine ,messenger1 ,who speaketh naught but the truth1 hath announced unto you the coming of the ,best-,beloved4 ,behold1 ,he is now come4 ,wherefore are ye downcast and dejected8 ,why remain despondent when the ,pure and ,hidden ,one hath appeared unveiled amongst you8 ,he ,who is both the ,beginning and the ,end1 ,he ,who is both ,stillness and ,motion1 is now manifest before your eyes4 ,behold how1 in this ,day1 the ,beginning is reflected in the ,end1 how out of ,stillness ,motion hath been engendered4 ,this motion hath been generated by the potent energies which the words of the ,almighty have released throughout the entire creation4 ,whoso hath been quickened by its vitalizing power1 will find himself impelled to attain the court of the ,beloved2 and whoso hath deprived himself therefrom1 will sink into irretrievable despondency4 ,he is truly wise whom the world and all that is therein have not deterred from recognizing the light of this ,day1 who will not allow men's idle talk to cause him to swerve from the way of righteousness4 ,he is indeed as one dead who1 at the wondrous dawn of this ,revelation1 hath failed to be quickened by its soul-stirring breeze4 ,he is indeed a captive who hath not recognized the ,supreme ,redeemer1 but hath suffered his soul to be bound1 distressed and helpless1 in the fetters of his desires4 ,o ,my servants6 ,whoso hath tasted of this ,fountain hath attained unto everlasting ,life1 and whoso hath refused to drink therefrom is even as the dead4 ,say3 ,o ye workers of iniquity6 ,covetousness hath hindered you from giving a hearing ear unto the sweet voice of ,him ,who is the ,all-,sufficing4 ,wash it away from your hearts1 that ,his ,divine secret may be made known unto you4 ,behold ,him manifest and resplendent as the sun in all its glory4 ,say3 ,o ye that are bereft of understanding6 ,a severe trial pursueth you1 and will suddenly overtake you4 ,bestir yourselves1 that haply it may pass and inflict no harm upon you4 ,acknowledge the exalted character of the name of the ,lord1 your ,god1 ,who hath come unto you in the greatness of ,his glory4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,supreme ,protector4 ,,lxxxvi3 ,,and ,,now ,,concerning ,,thy ,,question444 ,and now concerning thy question whether human souls continue to be conscious one of another after their separation from the body4 ,know thou that the souls of the people of ,bah1 who have entered and been established within the ,crimson ,ark1 shall associate and commune intimately one with another1 and shall be so closely associated in their lives1 their aspirations1 their aims and strivings as to be even as one soul4 ,they are indeed the ones who are well-informed1 who are keen-sighted1 and who are endued with understanding4 ,thus hath it been decreed by ,him ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,the people of ,bah1 who are the inmates of the ,ark of ,god1 are1 one and all1 well aware of one another's state and condition1 and are united in the bonds of intimacy and fellowship4 ,such a state1 however1 must depend upon their faith and their conduct4 ,they that are of the same grade and station are fully aware of one another's capacity1 character1 accomplishments and merits4 ,they that are of a lower grade1 however1 are incapable of comprehending adequately the station1 or of estimating the merits1 of those that rank above them4 ,each shall receive his share from thy ,lord4 ,blessed is the man that hath turned his face towards ,god1 and walked steadfastly in ,his love1 until his soul hath winged its flight unto ,god1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,ever-,forgiving1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,the souls of the infidels1 however1 shall--and to this ,i bear witness--when breathing their last be made aware of the good things that have escaped them1 and shall bemoan their plight1 and shall humble themselves before ,god4 ,they shall continue doing so after the separation of their souls from their bodies4 ,it is clear and evident that all men shall1 after their physical death1 estimate the worth of their deeds1 and realize all that their hands have wrought4 ,i swear by the ,day ,star that shineth above the horizon of ,divine power6 ,they that are the followers of the one true ,god shall1 the moment they depart out of this life1 experience such joy and gladness as would be impossible to describe1 while they that live in error shall be seized with such fear and trembling1 and shall be filled with such consternation1 as nothing can exceed4 ,well is it with him that hath quaffed the choice and incorruptible wine of faith through the gracious favor and the manifold bounties of ,him ,who is the ,lord of all ,faiths4444 ,this is the ,day when the loved ones of ,god should keep their eyes directed towards ,his ,manifestation1 and fasten them upon whatsoever that ,manifestation may be pleased to reveal4 ,certain traditions of bygone ages rest on no foundations whatever1 while the notions entertained by past generations1 and which they have recorded in their books1 have1 for the most part1 been influenced by the desires of a corrupt inclination4 ,thou dost witness how most of the commentaries and interpretations of the words of ,god1 now current amongst men1 are devoid of truth4 ,their falsity hath1 in some cases1 been exposed when the intervening veils were rent asunder4 ,they themselves have acknowledged their failure in apprehending the meaning of any of the words of ,god4 ,our purpose is to show that should the loved ones of ,god sanctify their hearts and their ears from the vain sayings that were uttered aforetime1 and turn with their inmost souls to ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of ,his ,revelation1 and to whatsoever things ,he hath manifested1 such behavior would be regarded as highly meritorious in the sight of ,god4444 ,magnify ,his ,name1 and be thou of the thankful4 ,convey ,my greetings to ,my loved ones1 whom ,god hath singled out for ,his love1 and caused them to achieve their objects4 ,all glory be to ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,lxxxvii3 ,,and ,,now ,,regarding ,,thy ,,question1 8,,how444 ,and now regarding thy question1 8,how is it that no records are to be found concerning the ,prophets that have preceded ,adam1 the ,father of ,mankind1 or of the kings that lived in the days of those ,prophets80 ,know thou that the absence of any reference to them is no proof that they did not actually exist4 ,that no records concerning them are now available1 should be attributed to their extreme remoteness1 as well as to the vast changes which the earth hath undergone since their time4 ,moreover such forms and modes of writing as are now current amongst men were unknown to the generations that were before ,adam4 ,there was even a time when men were wholly ignorant of the art of writing1 and had adopted a system entirely different from the one which they now use4 ,for a proper exposition of this an elaborate explanation would be required4 ,consider the differences that have arisen since the days of ,adam4 ,the divers and widely-known languages now spoken by the peoples of the earth were originally unknown1 as were the varied rules and customs now prevailing amongst them4 ,the people of those times spoke a language different from those now known4 ,diversities of language arose in a later age1 in a land known as ,babel4 ,it was given the name ,babel1 because the term signifieth 8the place where the confusion of tongues arose40 ,subsequently ,syriac became prominent among the existing languages4 ,the ,sacred ,scriptures of former times were revealed in that tongue4 ,later1 ,abraham1 the ,friend of ,god1 appeared and shed upon the world the light of ,divine ,revelation4 ,the language ,he spoke while ,he crossed the ,jordan became known as ,hebrew 7,ibrn71 which meaneth 8the language of the crossing40 ,the ,books of ,god and the ,sacred ,scriptures were then revealed in that tongue1 and not until after a considerable lapse of time did ,arabic become the language of ,revelation4444 ,witness1 therefore1 how numerous and far-reaching have been the changes in language1 speech1 and writing since the days of ,adam4 ,how much greater must have been the changes before ,him6 ,our purpose in revealing these words is to show that the one true ,god hath1 in ,his all-highest and transcendent station1 ever been1 and will everlastingly continue to be1 exalted above the praise and conception of all else but ,him4 ,his creation hath ever existed1 and the ,manifestations of ,his ,divine glory and the ,day ,springs of eternal holiness have been sent down from time immemorial1 and been commissioned to summon mankind to the one true ,god4 ,that the names of some of them are forgotten and the records of their lives lost is to be attributed to the disturbances and changes that have overtaken the world4 ,mention hath been made in certain books of a deluge which caused all that existed on earth1 historical records as well as other things1 to be destroyed4 ,moreover1 many cataclysms have occurred which have effaced the traces of many events4 ,furthermore1 among existing historical records differences are to be found1 and each of the various peoples of the world hath its own account of the age of the earth and of its history4 ,some trace their history as far back as eight thousand years1 others as far as twelve thousand years4 ,to any one that hath read the book of ,jk it is clear and evident how much the accounts given by the various books have differed4 ,please ,god thou wilt turn thine eyes towards the ,most ,great ,revelation1 and entirely disregard these conflicting tales and traditions4 ,,lxxxviii3 ,,know ,,verily ,,that ,,the ,,essence ,,of ,,justice444 ,know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinances prescribed by ,him ,who is the ,manifestation of the ,self of ,god amongst men1 if ye be of them that recognize this truth4 ,he doth verily incarnate the highest1 the infallible standard of justice unto all creation4 ,were ,his law to be such as to strike terror into the hearts of all that are in heaven and on earth1 that law is naught but manifest justice4 ,the fears and agitation which the revelation of this law provokes in men's hearts should indeed be likened to the cries of the suckling babe weaned from his mother's milk1 if ye be of them that perceive4 ,were men to discover the motivating purpose of ,god's ,revelation1 they would assuredly cast away their fears1 and1 with hearts filled with gratitude1 rejoice with exceeding gladness4 ,,lxxxix3 ,,know ,,assuredly ,,that ,,just ,,as ,,thou ,,firmly444 ,know assuredly that just as thou firmly believest that the ,word of ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 endureth for ever1 thou must1 likewise1 believe with undoubting faith that its meaning can never be exhausted4 ,they who are its appointed interpreters1 they whose hearts are the repositories of its secrets1 are1 however1 the only ones who can comprehend its manifold wisdom4 ,whoso1 while reading the ,sacred ,scriptures1 is tempted to choose therefrom whatever may suit him with which to challenge the authority of the ,representative of ,god among men1 is1 indeed1 as one dead1 though to outward seeming he may walk and converse with his neighbors1 and share with them their food and their drink4 ,oh1 would that the world could believe ,me6 ,were all the things that lie enshrined within the heart of ,bah1 and which the ,lord1 ,his ,god1 the ,lord of all names1 hath taught ,him1 to be unveiled to mankind1 every man on earth would be dumbfounded4 ,how great the multitude of truths which the garment of words can never contain6 ,how vast the number of such verities as no expression can adequately describe1 whose significance can never be unfolded1 and to which not even the remotest allusions can be made6 ,how manifold are the truths which must remain unuttered until the appointed time is come6 ,even as it hath been said3 8,not everything that a man knoweth can be disclosed1 nor can everything that he can disclose be regarded as timely1 nor can every timely utterance be considered as suited to the capacity of those who hear it40 ,of these truths some can be disclosed only to the extent of the capacity of the repositories of the light of ,our knowledge1 and the recipients of ,our hidden grace4 ,we beseech ,god to strengthen thee with ,his power1 and enable thee to recognize ,him ,who is the ,source of all knowledge1 that thou mayest detach thyself from all human learning1 for1 8what would it profit any man to strive after learning when he hath already found and recognized ,him ,who is the ,object of all knowledge80 ,cleave to the ,root of ,knowledge1 and to ,him ,who is the ,fountain thereof1 that thou mayest find thyself independent of all who claim to be well versed in human learning1 and whose claim no clear proof1 nor the testimony of any enlightening book1 can support4 ,,xc3 ,,whatever ,,is ,,in ,,the ,,heavens ,,and ,,whatever ,,is ,,on444 ,whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is a direct evidence of the revelation within it of the attributes and names of ,god1 inasmuch as within every atom are enshrined the signs that bear eloquent testimony to the revelation of that ,most ,great ,light4 ,methinks1 but for the potency of that revelation1 no being could ever exist4 ,how resplendent the luminaries of knowledge that shine in an atom1 and how vast the oceans of wisdom that surge within a drop6 ,to a supreme degree is this true of man1 who1 among all created things1 hath been invested with the robe of such gifts1 and hath been singled out for the glory of such distinction4 ,for in him are potentially revealed all the attributes and names of ,god to a degree that no other created being hath excelled or surpassed4 ,all these names and attributes are applicable to him4 ,even as ,he hath said3 8,man is ,my mystery1 and ,i am his mystery40 ,manifold are the verses that have been repeatedly revealed in all the ,heavenly ,books and the ,holy ,scriptures1 expressive of this most subtle and lofty theme4 ,even as ,he hath revealed3 8,we will surely show them ,our signs in the world and within themselves40 ,again ,he saith3 8,and also in your own selves3 will ye not1 then1 behold the signs of ,god80 ,and yet again ,he revealeth3 8,and be ye not like those who forget ,god1 and whom ,he hath therefore caused to forget their own selves40 ,in this connection1 ,he ,who is the eternal ,king--may the souls of all that dwell within the mystic ,tabernacle be a sacrifice unto ,him--hath spoken3 8,he hath known ,god who hath known himself40 444,from that which hath been said it becometh evident that all things1 in their inmost reality1 testify to the revelation of the names and attributes of ,god within them4 ,each according to its capacity1 indicateth1 and is expressive of1 the knowledge of ,god4 ,so potent and universal is this revelation1 that it hath encompassed all things visible and invisible4 ,thus hath ,he revealed3 8,hath aught else save ,thee a power of revelation which is not possessed by ,thee1 that it could have manifested ,thee8 ,blind is the eye which doth not perceive ,thee40 ,likewise hath the eternal ,king spoken3 8,no thing have ,i perceived1 except that ,i perceived ,god within it1 ,god before it1 or ,god after it40 ,also in the tradition of ,kumayl it is written3 8,behold1 a light hath shone forth out of the morn of eternity1 and lo1 its waves have penetrated the inmost reality of all men40 ,man1 the noblest and most perfect of all created things1 excelleth them all in the intensity of this revelation1 and is a fuller expression of its glory4 ,and of all men1 the most accomplished1 the most distinguished1 and the most excellent are the ,manifestations of the ,sun of ,truth4 ,nay1 all else besides these ,manifestations1 live by the operation of ,their ,will1 and move and have their being through the outpourings of ,their grace4 ,,xci3 ,,amongst ,,the ,,proofs ,,demonstrating ,,the ,,truth444 ,amongst the proofs demonstrating the truth of this ,revelation is this1 that in every age and ,dispensation1 whenever the invisible ,essence was revealed in the person of ,his ,manifestation1 certain souls1 obscure and detached from all worldly entanglements1 would seek illumination from the ,sun of ,prophethood and ,moon of ,divine guidance1 and would attain unto the ,divine ,presence4 ,for this reason1 the divines of the age and those possessed of wealth1 would scorn and scoff at these people4 ,even as ,he hath revealed concerning them that erred3 8,then said the chiefs of ,his people who believed not1 #8,we see in ,thee but a man like ourselves2 and we see not any who have followed ,thee except our meanest ones of hasty judgment1 nor see we any excellence in you above ourselves3 nay1 we deem you liars4'0 ,they caviled at those holy ,manifestations1 and protested saying3 8,none hath followed you except the abject amongst us1 those who are worthy of no attention40 ,their aim was to show that no one amongst the learned1 the wealthy1 and the renowned believed in them4 ,by this and similar proofs they sought to demonstrate the falsity of ,him that speaketh naught but the truth4 ,in this most resplendent ,dispensation1 however1 this most mighty ,sovereignty1 a number of illumined divines1 of men of consummate learning1 of doctors of mature wisdom1 have attained unto ,his ,court1 drunk the cup of ,his divine ,presence1 and been invested with the honor of ,his most excellent favor4 ,they have renounced1 for the sake of the ,beloved1 the world and all that is therein4444 ,all these were guided by the light of the ,sun of ,divine ,revelation1 confessed and acknowledged ,his truth4 ,such was their faith1 that most of them renounced their substance and kindred1 and cleaved to the good pleasure of the ,all-,glorious4 ,they laid down their lives for their ,well-,beloved1 and surrendered their all in ,his path4 ,their breasts were made targets for the darts of the enemy1 and their heads adorned the spears of the infidel4 ,no land remained which did not drink the blood of these embodiments of detachment1 and no sword that did not bruise their necks4 ,their deeds1 alone1 testify to the truth of their words4 ,doth not the testimony of these holy souls1 who have so gloriously risen to offer up their lives for their ,beloved that the whole world marveled at the manner of their sacrifice1 suffice the people of this day8 ,is it not sufficient witness against the faithlessness of those who for a trifle betrayed their faith1 who bartered away immortality for that which perisheth1 who gave up the ,kawthar of the ,divine ,presence for salty springs1 and whose one aim in life is to usurp the property of others8 ,even as thou dost witness how all of them have busied themselves with the vanities of the world1 and have strayed far from ,him ,who is the ,lord1 the ,most ,high4 ,be fair3 ,is the testimony of those acceptable and worthy of attention whose deeds agree with their words1 whose outward behavior conforms with their inner life8 ,the mind is bewildered at their deeds1 and the soul marveleth at their fortitude and bodily endurance4 ,or is the testimony of these faithless souls who breathe naught but the breath of selfish desire1 and who lie imprisoned in the cage of their idle fancies1 acceptable8 ,like the bats of darkness1 they lift not their heads from their couch except to pursue the transient things of the world1 and find no rest by night except as they labor to advance the aims of their sordid life4 ,immersed in their selfish schemes1 they are oblivious of the ,divine decree4 ,in the daytime they strive with all their soul after worldly benefits1 and in the night season their sole occupation is to gratify their carnal desires4 ,by what law or standard could men be justified in cleaving to the denials of such petty-minded souls and in ignoring the faith of them that have renounced1 for the sake of the good pleasure of ,god1 their life and substance1 their fame and renown1 their reputation and honor8444 ,with what love1 what devotion1 what exultation and holy rapture1 they sacrificed their lives in the path of the ,all-,glorious6 ,to the truth of this all witness4 ,and yet1 how can they belittle this ,revelation8 ,hath any age witnessed such momentous happenings8 ,if these companions be not the true strivers after ,god1 who else could be called by this name8 ,have these companions been seekers after power or glory8 ,have they ever yearned for riches8 ,have they cherished any desire except the good pleasure of ,god8 ,if these companions1 with all their marvelous testimonies and wondrous works1 be false1 who then is worthy to claim for himself the truth8 ,i swear by ,god6 ,their very deeds are a sufficient testimony1 and an irrefutable proof unto all the peoples of the earth1 were men to ponder in their hearts the mysteries of ,divine ,revelation4 8,and they who act unjustly shall soon know what lot awaiteth them60444 ,consider these martyrs of unquestionable sincerity1 to whose truthfulness testifieth the explicit text of the ,book1 and all of whom1 as thou hast witnessed1 have sacrificed their life1 their substance1 their wives1 their children1 their all1 and ascended unto the loftiest chambers of ,paradise4 ,is it fair to reject the testimony of these detached and exalted beings to the truth of this pre-eminent and ,glorious ,revelation1 and to regard as acceptable the denunciations which have been uttered against this resplendent ,light by this faithless people1 who for gold have forsaken their faith1 and who for the sake of leadership have repudiated ,him ,who is the ,first ,leader of all mankind8 ,this1 although their character is now revealed unto all people who have recognized them as those who will in no wise relinquish one jot or one tittle of their temporal authority for the sake of ,god's holy ,faith1 how much less their life1 their substance1 and the like4 ,,xcii3 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,god ,,is ,,wide ,,open1 ,,and ,,his444 ,the ,book of ,god is wide open1 and ,his ,word is summoning mankind unto ,him4 ,no more than a mere handful1 however1 hath been found willing to cleave to ,his ,cause1 or to become the instruments for its promotion4 ,these few have been endued with the ,divine ,elixir that can1 alone1 transmute into purest gold the dross of the world1 and have been empowered to administer the infallible remedy for all the ills that afflict the children of men4 ,no man can obtain everlasting life1 unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable1 this wondrous1 and sublime ,revelation4 ,incline your ears1 ,o friends of ,god1 to the voice of ,him ,whom the world hath wronged1 and hold fast unto whatsoever will exalt ,his ,cause4 ,he1 verily1 guideth whomsoever ,he pleaseth unto ,his straight ,path4 ,this is a ,revelation that infuseth strength into the feeble1 and crowneth with wealth the destitute4 ,with the utmost friendliness and in a spirit of perfect fellowship take ye counsel together1 and dedicate the precious days of your lives to the betterment of the world and the promotion of the ,cause of ,him ,who is the ,ancient and ,sovereign ,lord of all4 ,he1 verily1 enjoineth upon all men what is right1 and forbiddeth whatsoever degradeth their station4 ,,xciii3 ,,know ,,thou ,,that ,,every ,,created ,,thing ,,is ,a444 ,know thou that every created thing is a sign of the revelation of ,god4 ,each1 according to its capacity1 is1 and will ever remain1 a token of the ,almighty4 ,inasmuch as ,he1 the sovereign ,lord of all1 hath willed to reveal ,his sovereignty in the kingdom of names and attributes1 each and every created thing hath1 through the act of the ,divine ,will1 been made a sign of ,his glory4 ,so pervasive and general is this revelation that nothing whatsoever in the whole universe can be discovered that doth not reflect ,his splendor4 ,under such conditions every consideration of proximity and remoteness is obliterated4444 ,were the ,hand of ,divine power to divest of this high endowment all created things1 the entire universe would become desolate and void4 ,behold1 how immeasurably exalted is the ,lord your ,god above all created things6 ,witness the majesty of ,his sovereignty1 ,his ascendancy1 and supreme power4 ,if the things which have been created by ,him--magnified be ,his glory--and ordained to be the manifestations of ,his names and attributes1 stand1 by virtue of the grace with which they have been endowed1 exalted beyond all proximity and remoteness1 how much loftier must be that ,divine ,essence that hath called them into being8444 ,meditate on what the poet hath written3 8,wonder not1 if my ,best-,beloved be closer to me than mine own self2 wonder at this1 that ,i1 despite such nearness1 should still be so far from ,him40444 ,considering what ,god hath revealed1 that 8,we are closer to man than his life-vein10 the poet hath1 in allusion to this verse1 stated that1 though the revelation of my ,best-,beloved hath so permeated my being that ,he is closer to me than my life-vein1 yet1 notwithstanding my certitude of its reality and my recognition of my station1 ,i am still so far removed from ,him4 ,by this he meaneth that his heart1 which is the seat of the ,all-,merciful and the throne wherein abideth the splendor of ,his revelation1 is forgetful of its ,creator1 hath strayed from ,his path1 hath shut out itself from ,his glory1 and is stained with the defilement of earthly desires4 ,it should be remembered in this connection that the one true ,god is in ,himself exalted beyond and above proximity and remoteness4 ,his reality transcendeth such limitations4 ,his relationship to ,his creatures knoweth no degrees4 ,that some are near and others are far is to be ascribed to the manifestations themselves4 ,that the heart is the throne1 in which the ,revelation of ,god the ,all-,merciful is centered1 is attested by the holy utterances which ,we have formerly revealed4 ,among them is this saying3 8,earth and heaven cannot contain ,me2 what can alone contain ,me is the heart of him that believeth in ,me1 and is faithful to ,my ,cause40 ,how often hath the human heart1 which is the recipient of the light of ,god and the seat of the revelation of the ,all-,merciful1 erred from ,him ,who is the ,source of that light and the ,well ,spring of that revelation4 ,it is the waywardness of the heart that removeth it far from ,god1 and condemneth it to remoteness from ,him4 ,those hearts1 however1 that are aware of ,his ,presence1 are close to ,him1 and are to be regarded as having drawn nigh unto ,his throne4 ,consider1 moreover1 how frequently doth man become forgetful of his own self1 whilst ,god remaineth1 through ,his all-encompassing knowledge1 aware of ,his creature1 and continueth to shed upon him the manifest radiance of ,his glory4 ,it is evident1 therefore1 that1 in such circumstances1 ,he is closer to him than his own self4 ,he will1 indeed1 so remain for ever1 for1 whereas the one true ,god knoweth all things1 perceiveth all things1 and comprehendeth all things1 mortal man is prone to err1 and is ignorant of the mysteries that lie enfolded within him4444 ,let no one imagine that by ,our assertion that all created things are the signs of the revelation of ,god is meant that--,god forbid--all men1 be they good or evil1 pious or infidel1 are equal in the sight of ,god4 ,nor doth it imply that the ,divine ,being--magnified be ,his name and exalted be ,his glory--is1 under any circumstances1 comparable unto men1 or can1 in any way1 be associated with ,his creatures4 ,such an error hath been committed by certain foolish ones who1 after having ascended into the heavens of their idle fancies1 have interpreted ,divine ,unity to mean that all created things are the signs of ,god1 and that1 consequently1 there is no distinction whatsoever between them4 ,some have even outstripped them by maintaining that these signs are peers and partners of ,god ,himself4 ,gracious ,god6 ,he1 verily1 is one and indivisible2 one in ,his essence1 one in ,his attributes4 ,everything besides ,him is as nothing when brought face to face with the resplendent revelation of but one of ,his names1 with no more than the faintest intimation of ,his glory--how much less when confronted with ,his own ,self6 ,by the righteousness of ,my name1 the ,all-,merciful6 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high trembleth with a great trembling and is sore shaken at the revelation of these words4 ,how puny and insignificant is the evanescent drop when compared with the waves and billows of ,god's limitless and everlasting ,ocean1 and how utterly contemptible must every contingent and perishable thing appear when brought face to face with the uncreated1 the unspeakable glory of the ,eternal6 ,we implore pardon of ,god1 the ,all-,powerful1 for them that entertain such beliefs1 and give utterance to such words4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,how can a fleeting fancy compare with the ,self-,subsisting1 and how can the ,creator be likened unto ,his creatures1 who are but as the script of ,his ,pen8 ,nay1 ,his script excelleth all things1 and is sanctified from1 and immeasurably exalted above1 all creatures4 ,furthermore1 consider the signs of the revelation of ,god in their relation one to another4 ,can the sun1 which is but one of these signs1 be regarded as equal in rank to darkness8 ,the one true ,god beareth ,me witness6 ,no man can believe it1 unless he be of those whose hearts are straitened1 and whose eyes have become deluded4 ,say3 ,consider your own selves4 ,your nails and eyes are both parts of your bodies4 ,do ye regard them of equal rank and value8 ,if ye say1 yea2 say1 then3 ye have indeed charged with imposture1 the ,lord1 my ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 inasmuch as ye pare the one1 and cherish the other as dearly as your own life4 ,to transgress the limits of one's own rank and station is1 in no wise1 permissible4 ,the integrity of every rank and station must needs be preserved4 ,by this is meant that every created thing should be viewed in the light of the station it hath been ordained to occupy4 ,it should be borne in mind1 however1 that when the light of ,my ,name1 the ,all-,pervading1 hath shed its radiance upon the universe1 each and every created thing hath1 according to a fixed decree1 been endowed with the capacity to exercise a particular influence1 and been made to possess a distinct virtue4 ,consider the effect of poison4 ,deadly though it is1 it possesseth the power of exerting1 under certain conditions1 a beneficial influence4 ,the potency infused into all created things is the direct consequence of the revelation of this most blessed ,name4 ,glorified be ,he1 ,who is the ,creator of all names and attributes6 ,cast into the fire the tree that hath rot and dried up1 and abide under the shadow of the green and goodly ,tree1 and partake of the fruit thereof4 ,the people living in the days of the ,manifestations of ,god have1 for the most part1 uttered such unseemly sayings4 ,these have been set down circumstantially in the revealed ,books and ,holy ,scriptures4 ,he is really a believer in the ,unity of ,god who recognizeth in each and every created thing the sign of the revelation of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 and not he who maintaineth that the creature is indistinguishable from the ,creator4 ,consider1 for instance1 the revelation of the light of the ,name of ,god1 the ,educator4 ,behold1 how in all things the evidences of such a revelation are manifest1 how the betterment of all beings dependeth upon it4 ,this education is of two kinds4 ,the one is universal4 ,its influence pervadeth all things and sustaineth them4 ,it is for this reason that ,god hath assumed the title1 8,lord of all worlds40 ,the other is confined to them that have come under the shadow of this ,name1 and sought the shelter of this most mighty ,revelation4 ,they1 however1 that have failed to seek this shelter1 have deprived themselves of this privilege1 and are powerless to benefit from the spiritual sustenance that hath been sent down through the heavenly grace of this ,most ,great ,name4 ,how great the gulf fixed between the one and the other6 ,if the veil were lifted1 and the full glory of the station of those that have turned wholly towards ,god1 and have1 in their love for ,him1 renounced the world1 were made manifest1 the entire creation would be dumbfounded4 ,the true believer in the ,unity of ,god will1 as it hath already been explained1 recognize1 in the believer and the unbeliever1 the evidences of the revelation of both of these ,names4 ,were this revelation to be withdrawn1 all would perish4 ,consider1 in like manner1 the revelation of the light of the ,name of ,god1 the ,incomparable4 ,behold1 how this light hath enveloped the entire creation1 how each and every thing manifesteth the sign of ,his ,unity1 testifieth to the reality of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 proclaimeth ,his sovereignty1 ,his oneness1 and ,his power4 ,this revelation is a token of ,his mercy that hath encompassed all created things4 ,they that have joined partners with ,him1 however1 are unaware of such a revelation1 and are deprived of the ,faith through which they can draw near unto1 and be united with1 ,him4 ,witness how the divers peoples and kindreds of the earth bear witness to ,his unity1 and recognize ,his oneness4 ,but for the sign of the ,unity of ,god within them1 they would have never acknowledged the truth of the words1 8,there is none other ,god but ,god40 ,and yet1 consider how grievously they have erred1 and strayed from ,his path4 ,inasmuch as they have failed to recognize the ,sovereign ,revealer1 they have ceased to be reckoned among those who may be regarded as true believers in the ,unity of ,god4 ,this sign of the revelation of the ,divine ,being in them that have joined partners with ,him may1 in a sense1 be regarded as a reflection of the glory with which the faithful are illumined4 ,none1 however1 can comprehend this truth save men endued with understanding4 ,they that have truly recognized the ,unity of ,god should be regarded as the primary manifestations of this ,name4 ,it is they who have quaffed the wine of ,divine ,unity from the cup which the hand of ,god hath proffered unto them1 and who have turned their faces towards ,him4 ,how vast the distance that separateth these sanctified beings from those men that are so far away from ,god6444 ,god grant that1 with a penetrating vision1 thou mayest perceive1 in all things1 the sign of the revelation of ,him ,who is the ,ancient ,king1 and recognize how exalted and sanctified from the whole creation is that most holy and sacred ,being4 ,this1 in truth1 is the very root and essence of belief in the unity and singleness of ,god4 8,god was alone2 there was none else besides ,him40 ,he1 now1 is what ,he hath ever been4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him1 the ,one1 the ,incomparable1 the ,almighty1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,,xciv3 ,,and ,,now ,,concerning ,,thy ,,reference ,,to ,,the444 ,and now concerning thy reference to the existence of two ,gods4 ,beware1 beware1 lest thou be led to join partners with the ,lord1 thy ,god4 ,he is1 and hath from everlasting been1 one and alone1 without peer or equal1 eternal in the past1 eternal in the future1 detached from all things1 ever-abiding1 unchangeable1 and self-subsisting4 ,he hath assigned no associate unto ,himself in ,his ,kingdom1 no counsellor to counsel ,him1 none to compare unto ,him1 none to rival ,his glory4 ,to this every atom of the universe beareth witness1 and beyond it the inmates of the realms on high1 they that occupy the most exalted seats1 and whose names are remembered before the ,throne of ,glory4 ,bear thou witness in thine inmost heart unto this testimony which ,god hath ,himself and for ,himself pronounced1 that there is none other ,god but ,him1 that all else besides ,him have been created by ,his behest1 have been fashioned by ,his leave1 are subject to ,his law1 are as a thing forgotten when compared to the glorious evidences of ,his oneness1 and are as nothing when brought face to face with the mighty revelations of ,his unity4 ,he1 in truth1 hath1 throughout eternity1 been one in ,his ,essence1 one in ,his attributes1 one in ,his works4 ,any and every comparison is applicable only to ,his creatures1 and all conceptions of association are conceptions that belong solely to those that serve ,him4 ,immeasurably exalted is ,his ,essence above the descriptions of ,his creatures4 ,he1 alone1 occupieth the ,seat of transcendent majesty1 of supreme and inaccessible glory4 ,the birds of men's hearts1 however high they soar1 can never hope to attain the heights of ,his unknowable ,essence4 ,it is ,he ,who hath called into being the whole of creation1 ,who hath caused every created thing to spring forth at ,his behest4 ,shall1 then1 the thing that was born by virtue of the word which ,his ,pen hath revealed1 and which the finger of ,his ,will hath directed1 be regarded as partner with ,him1 or an embodiment of ,his ,self8 ,far be it from ,his glory that human pen or tongue should hint at ,his mystery1 or that human heart conceive ,his ,essence4 ,all else besides ,him stand poor and desolate at ,his door1 all are powerless before the greatness of ,his might1 all are but slaves in ,his ,kingdom4 ,he is rich enough to dispense with all creatures4 ,the tie of servitude established between the worshiper and the adored ,one1 between the creature and the ,creator1 should in itself be regarded as a token of ,his gracious favor unto men1 and not as an indication of any merit they may possess4 ,to this testifieth every true and discerning believer4 ,,xcv3 ,,know ,,thou ,,that1 ,,according ,,to ,,what ,,thy444 ,know thou that1 according to what thy ,lord1 the ,lord of all men1 hath decreed in ,his ,book1 the favors vouchsafed by ,him unto mankind have been1 and will ever remain1 limitless in their range4 ,first and foremost among these favors1 which the ,almighty hath conferred upon man1 is the gift of understanding4 ,his purpose in conferring such a gift is none other except to enable ,his creature to know and recognize the one true ,god--exalted be ,his glory4 ,this gift giveth man the power to discern the truth in all things1 leadeth him to that which is right1 and helpeth him to discover the secrets of creation4 ,next in rank1 is the power of vision1 the chief instrument whereby his understanding can function4 ,the senses of hearing1 of the heart1 and the like1 are similarly to be reckoned among the gifts with which the human body is endowed4 ,immeasurably exalted is the ,almighty ,who hath created these powers1 and revealed them in the body of man4 ,every one of these gifts is an undoubted evidence of the majesty1 the power1 the ascendancy1 the all-embracing knowledge of the one true ,god--exalted be ,his glory4 ,consider the sense of touch4 ,witness how its power hath spread itself over the entire human body4 ,whereas the faculties of sight and of hearing are each localized in a particular center1 the sense of touch embraceth the whole human frame4 ,glorified be ,his power1 magnified be ,his sovereignty6 ,these gifts are inherent in man himself4 ,that which is preeminent above all other gifts1 is incorruptible in nature1 and pertaineth to ,god ,himself1 is the gift of ,divine ,revelation4 ,every bounty conferred by the ,creator upon man1 be it material or spiritual1 is subservient unto this4 ,it is1 in its essence1 and will ever so remain1 the ,bread which cometh down from ,heaven4 ,it is ,god's supreme testimony1 the clearest evidence of ,his truth1 the sign of ,his consummate bounty1 the token of ,his all-encompassing mercy1 the proof of ,his most loving providence1 the symbol of ,his most perfect grace4 ,he hath1 indeed1 partaken of this highest gift of ,god who hath recognized ,his ,manifestation in this ,day4 ,render thanks unto thy ,lord for having vouchsafed unto thee so great a bounty4 ,lift up thy voice and say3 ,all praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,thou1 the ,desire of every understanding heart6 ,,xcvi3 ,,the ,,pen ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,high ,,is ,,unceasingly444 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high is unceasingly calling2 and yet1 how few are those that have inclined their ear to its voice6 ,the dwellers of the kingdom of names have busied themselves with the gay livery of the world1 forgetful that every man that hath eyes to perceive and ears to hear cannot but readily recognize how evanescent are its colors4 ,a new life is1 in this age1 stirring within all the peoples of the earth2 and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive4 ,consider the peoples of the ,west4 ,witness how1 in their pursuit of that which is vain and trivial1 they have sacrificed1 and are still sacrificing1 countless lives for the sake of its establishment and promotion4 ,the peoples of ,persia1 on the other hand1 though the repository of a perspicuous and luminous ,revelation1 the glory of whose loftiness and renown hath encompassed the whole earth1 are dispirited and sunk in deep lethargy4 ,o friends6 ,be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed1 neither be neglectful of your high destiny4 ,suffer not your labors to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised4 ,ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding1 the breeze that stirreth at the break of day1 the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men1 the letters inscribed upon ,his sacred scroll4 ,with the utmost unity1 and in a spirit of perfect fellowship1 exert yourselves1 that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this ,day of ,god4 ,verily ,i say1 strife and dissension1 and whatsoever the mind of man abhorreth are entirely unworthy of his station4 ,center your energies in the propagation of the ,faith of ,god4 ,whoso is worthy of so high a calling1 let him arise and promote it4 ,whoso is unable1 it is his duty to appoint him who will1 in his stead1 proclaim this ,revelation1 whose power hath caused the foundations of the mightiest structures to quake1 every mountain to be crushed into dust1 and every soul to be dumbfounded4 ,should the greatness of this ,day be revealed in its fullness1 every man would forsake a myriad lives in his longing to partake1 though it be for one moment1 of its great glory--how much more this world and its corruptible treasures6 ,be ye guided by wisdom in all your doings1 and cleave ye tenaciously unto it4 ,please ,god ye may all be strengthened to carry out that which is the ,will of ,god1 and may be graciously assisted to appreciate the rank conferred upon such of ,his loved ones as have arisen to serve ,him and magnify ,his name4 ,upon them be the glory of ,god1 the glory of all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth1 and the glory of the inmates of the most exalted ,paradise1 the heaven of heavens4 ,,xcvii3 ,,consider ,,the ,,doubts ,,which ,,they ,,who ,,have444 ,consider the doubts which they who have joined partners with ,god have instilled into the hearts of the people of this land4 8,is it ever possible10 they ask1 8for copper to be transmuted into gold80 ,say1 ,yes1 by my ,lord1 it is possible4 ,its secret1 however1 lieth hidden in ,our ,knowledge4 ,we will reveal it unto whom ,we will4 ,whoso doubteth ,our power1 let him ask the ,lord his ,god1 that ,he may disclose unto him the secret1 and assure him of its truth4 ,that copper can be turned into gold is in itself sufficient proof that gold can1 in like manner1 be transmuted into copper1 if they be of them that can apprehend this truth4 ,every mineral can be made to acquire the density1 form1 and substance of each and every other mineral4 ,the knowledge thereof is with ,us in the ,hidden ,book4 ,,xcviii3 ,,say3 ,o ,,leaders ,,of ,,religion6 ,,weigh ,,not ,,the444 ,say3 ,o leaders of religion6 ,weigh not the ,book of ,god with such standards and sciences as are current amongst you1 for the ,book itself is the unerring balance established amongst men4 ,in this most perfect balance whatsoever the peoples and kindreds of the earth possess must be weighed1 while the measure of its weight should be tested according to its own standard1 did ye but know it4 ,the eye of ,my loving-kindness weepeth sore over you1 inasmuch as ye have failed to recognize the ,one upon ,whom ye have been calling in the daytime and in the night season1 at even and at morn4 ,advance1 ,o people1 with snow-white faces and radiant hearts1 unto the blest and crimson ,spot1 wherein the ,sadratu'l-,muntah is calling3 8,verily1 there is none other ,god beside ,me1 the ,omnipotent ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting60 ,o ye leaders of religion6 ,who is the man amongst you that can rival ,me in vision or insight8 ,where is he to be found that dareth to claim to be ,my equal in utterance or wisdom8 ,no1 by ,my ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful6 ,all on the earth shall pass away2 and this is the face of your ,lord1 the ,almighty1 the ,well-,beloved4 ,we have decreed1 ,o people1 that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of ,him ,who is the ,object of all knowledge2 and yet1 behold how ye have allowed your learning to shut you out1 as by a veil1 from ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of this ,light1 through ,whom every hidden thing hath been revealed4 ,could ye but discover the source whence the splendor of this utterance is diffused1 ye would cast away the peoples of the world and all that they possess1 and would draw nigh unto this most blessed ,seat of glory4 ,say3 ,this1 verily1 is the heaven in which the ,mother ,book is treasured1 could ye but comprehend it4 ,he it is ,who hath caused the ,rock to shout1 and the ,burning ,bush to lift up its voice1 upon the ,mount rising above the ,holy ,land1 and proclaim3 8,the ,kingdom is ,god's1 the sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,loving60 ,we have not entered any school1 nor read any of your dissertations4 ,incline your ears to the words of this unlettered ,one1 wherewith ,he summoneth you unto ,god1 the ,ever-,abiding4 ,better is this for you than all the treasures of the earth1 could ye but comprehend it4 ,,xcix3 ,,the ,,vitality ,,of ,,men',s ,,belief ,,in ,,god ,,is ,,dying444 ,the vitality of men's belief in ,god is dying out in every land2 nothing short of ,his wholesome medicine can ever restore it4 ,the corrosion of ungodliness is eating into the vitals of human society2 what else but the ,elixir of ,his potent ,revelation can cleanse and revive it8 ,is it within human power1 ,o ,hakm1 to effect in the constituent elements of any of the minute and indivisible particles of matter so complete a transformation as to transmute it into purest gold8 ,perplexing and difficult as this may appear1 the still greater task of converting satanic strength into heavenly power is one that ,we have been empowered to accomplish4 ,the ,force capable of such a transformation transcendeth the potency of the ,elixir itself4 ,the ,word of ,god1 alone1 can claim the distinction of being endowed with the capacity required for so great and far-reaching a change4 ,c3 ,,the ,,voice ,,of ,,the ,,divine ,,herald1 ,,proceeding444 ,the voice of the ,divine ,herald1 proceeding out of the throne of ,god1 declareth3 ,o ye ,my loved ones6 ,suffer not the hem of ,my sacred vesture to be smirched and mired with the things of this world1 and follow not the promptings of your evil and corrupt desires4 ,the ,day ,star of ,divine ,revelation1 that shineth in the plenitude of its glory in the heaven of this ,prison1 beareth ,me witness4 ,they whose hearts are turned towards ,him ,who is the ,object of the adoration of the entire creation must needs1 in this ,day1 pass beyond and be sanctified from all created things1 visible and invisible4 ,if they arise to teach ,my ,cause1 they must let the breath of ,him ,who is the ,unconstrained1 stir them and must spread it abroad on the earth with high resolve1 with minds that are wholly centered in ,him1 and with hearts that are completely detached from and independent of all things1 and with souls that are sanctified from the world and its vanities4 ,it behoveth them to choose as the best provision for their journey reliance upon ,god1 and to clothe themselves with the love of their ,lord1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,all-,glorious4 ,if they do so1 their words shall influence their hearers4 ,how great1 how very great1 the gulf that separateth ,us from them who1 in this ,day1 are occupied with their evil passions1 and have set their hopes on the things of the earth and its fleeting glory6 ,many a time hath the court of the ,all-,merciful been to outward seeming so denuded of the riches of this world that they who lived in close association with ,him suffered from dire want4 ,despite their sufferings1 the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath1 at no time1 been willing to refer1 nor even to make the slightest allusion1 to the things that pertain to this world and its treasures4 ,and if1 at any time1 any gift were presented to ,him1 that gift was accepted as a token of ,his grace unto him that offered it4 ,should it ever please ,us to appropriate to ,our own use all the treasures of the earth1 to none is given the right to question ,our authority1 or to challenge ,our right4 ,it would be impossible to conceive any act more contemptible than soliciting1 in the name of the one true ,god1 the riches which men possess4 ,it is incumbent upon thee1 and upon the followers of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 to summon all men to whatsoever shall sanctify them from all attachment to the things of the earth and purge them from its defilements1 that the sweet smell of the raiment of the ,all-,glorious may be smelled from all them that love ,him4 ,they who are possessed of riches1 however1 must have the utmost regard for the poor1 for great is the honor destined by ,god for those poor who are steadfast in patience4 ,by ,my life6 ,there is no honor1 except what ,god may please to bestow1 that can compare to this honor4 ,great is the blessedness awaiting the poor that endure patiently and conceal their sufferings1 and well is it with the rich who bestow their riches on the needy and prefer them before themselves4 ,please ,god1 the poor may exert themselves and strive to earn the means of livelihood4 ,this is a duty which1 in this most great ,revelation1 hath been prescribed unto every one1 and is accounted in the sight of ,god as a goodly deed4 ,whoso observeth this duty1 the help of the invisible ,one shall most certainly aid him4 ,he can enrich1 through ,his grace1 whomsoever ,he pleaseth4 ,he1 verily1 hath power over all things4444 ,tell1 ,o #8,al1 the loved ones of ,god that equity is the most fundamental among human virtues4 ,the evaluation of all things must needs depend upon it4 ,ponder a while on the woes and afflictions which this ,prisoner hath sustained4 ,i have1 all the days of ,my life1 been at the mercy of ,mine enemies1 and have suffered each day1 in the path of the love of ,god1 a fresh tribulation4 ,i have patiently endured until the fame of the ,cause of ,god was spread abroad on the earth4 ,if any one should now arise and1 prompted by the vain imaginations his heart hath devised1 endeavor1 openly or in secret1 to sow the seeds of dissension amongst men--can such a man be said to have acted with equity8 ,no1 by ,him ,whose might extendeth over all things6 ,by ,my life6 ,mine heart groaneth and mine eyes weep sore for the ,cause of ,god and for them that understand not what they say and imagine what they cannot comprehend4 ,it beseemeth all men1 in this ,day1 to take firm hold on the ,most ,great ,name1 and to establish the unity of all mankind4 ,there is no place to flee to1 no refuge that any one can seek1 except ,him4 ,should any man be led to utter such words as will turn away the people from the shores of ,god's limitless ocean1 and cause them to fix their hearts on anything except this glorious and manifest ,being1 that hath assumed a form subject to human limitations--such a man1 however lofty the station he may occupy1 shall be denounced by the entire creation as one that hath deprived himself of the sweet savors of the ,all-,merciful4 ,say3 ,observe equity in your judgment1 ye men of understanding heart6 ,he that is unjust in his judgment is destitute of the characteristics that distinguish man's station4 ,he ,who is the ,eternal ,truth knoweth well what the breasts of men conceal4 ,his long forbearance hath emboldened ,his creatures1 for not until the appointed time is come will ,he rend any veil asunder4 ,his surpassing mercy hath restrained the fury of ,his wrath1 and caused most people to imagine that the one true ,god is unaware of the things they have privily committed4 ,by ,him ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,informed6 ,the mirror of ,his knowledge reflecteth1 with complete distinctness1 precision and fidelity1 the doings of all men4 ,say3 ,praise be to ,thee1 ,o ,concealer of the sins of the weak and helpless6 ,magnified be ,thy name1 ,o ,thou that forgivest the heedless ones that trespass against ,thee6 ,we have forbidden men to walk after the imaginations of their hearts1 that they may be enabled to recognize ,him ,who is the sovereign ,source and ,object of all knowledge1 and may acknowledge whatsoever ,he may be pleased to reveal4 ,witness how they have entangled themselves with their idle fancies and vain imaginations4 ,by ,my life6 ,they are themselves the victims of what their own hearts have devised1 and yet they perceive it not4 ,vain and profitless is the talk of their lips1 and yet they understand not4 ,we beseech ,god that ,he may graciously vouchsafe ,his grace unto all men1 and enable them to attain the knowledge of ,him and of themselves4 ,by ,my life6 ,whoso hath known ,him shall soar in the immensity of ,his love1 and shall be detached from the world and all that is therein4 ,nothing on earth shall deflect him from his course1 how much less they who1 prompted by their vain imaginations1 speak those things which ,god hath forbidden4 ,say3 ,this is the ,day when every ear must needs be attentive to ,his voice4 ,hearken ye to the ,call of this wronged ,one1 and magnify ye the name of the one true ,god1 and adorn yourselves with the ornament of ,his remembrance1 and illumine your hearts with the light of ,his love4 ,this is the key that unlocketh the hearts of men1 the burnish that shall cleanse the souls of all beings4 ,he that is careless of what hath poured out from the finger of the ,will of ,god liveth in manifest error4 ,amity and rectitude of conduct1 rather than dissension and mischief1 are the marks of true faith4 ,proclaim unto men what ,he1 ,who speaketh the truth and is the ,bearer of the ,trust of ,god1 hath bidden thee observe4 ,my glory be with thee1 ,o thou that callest upon ,my name1 whose eyes are directed towards ,my court1 and whose tongue uttereth the praise of thy ,lord1 the ,beneficent4 ,,ci3 ,,the ,,purpose ,,underlying ,,the ,,revelation ,,of444 ,the purpose underlying the revelation of every heavenly ,book1 nay1 of every divinely-revealed verse1 is to endue all men with righteousness and understanding1 so that peace and tranquillity may be firmly established amongst them4 ,whatsoever instilleth assurance into the hearts of men1 whatsoever exalteth their station or promoteth their contentment1 is acceptable in the sight of ,god4 ,how lofty is the station which man1 if he but choose to fulfill his high destiny1 can attain6 ,to what depths of degradation he can sink1 depths which the meanest of creatures have never reached6 ,seize1 ,o friends1 the chance which this ,day offereth you1 and deprive not yourselves of the liberal effusions of ,his grace4 ,i beseech ,god that ,he may graciously enable every one of you to adorn himself1 in this blessed ,day1 with the ornament of pure and holy deeds4 ,he1 verily1 doeth whatsoever ,he willeth4 ,,cii3 ,,give ,a ,,hearing ,,ear1 ,o ,,people1 ,,to ,,that ,,which444 ,give a hearing ear1 ,o people1 to that which ,i1 in truth1 say unto you4 ,the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 hath ever regarded1 and will continue to regard1 the hearts of men as ,his own1 ,his exclusive possession4 ,all else1 whether pertaining to land or sea1 whether riches or glory1 ,he hath bequeathed unto the ,kings and rulers of the earth4 ,from the beginning that hath no beginning the ensign proclaiming the words 8,he doeth whatsoever ,he willeth0 hath been unfurled in all its splendor before ,his ,manifestation4 ,what mankind needeth in this day is obedience unto them that are in authority1 and a faithful adherence to the cord of wisdom4 ,the instruments which are essential to the immediate protection1 the security and assurance of the human race have been entrusted to the hands1 and lie in the grasp1 of the governors of human society4 ,this is the wish of ,god and ,his decree4444 ,we cherish the hope that one of the kings of the earth will1 for the sake of ,god1 arise for the triumph of this wronged1 this oppressed people4 ,such a king will be eternally extolled and glorified4 ,god hath prescribed unto this people the duty of aiding whosoever will aid them1 of serving his best interests1 and of demonstrating to him their abiding loyalty4 ,they who follow ,me must strive1 under all circumstances1 to promote the welfare of whosoever will arise for the triumph of ,my ,cause1 and must at all times prove their devotion and fidelity unto him4 ,happy is the man that hearkeneth and observeth ,my counsel4 ,woe unto him that faileth to fulfil ,my wish4 ,,ciii3 ,,god ,,hath1 ,,through ,,his ,,tongue ,,that ,,uttereth444 ,god hath1 through ,his tongue that uttereth the truth1 testified in all ,his ,tablets to these words3 8,i am ,he that liveth in the ,abh ,realm of ,glory40 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,he1 from the heights of this sublime1 this holy1 this mighty1 and transcendent station1 seeth all things1 heareth all things1 and is1 at this hour1 proclaiming3 ,blessed art thou1 ,o ,javd1 inasmuch as thou hast attained unto that which no man before thee hath attained4 ,i swear by ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth6 ,through thee the eyes of the inmates of the ,exalted ,paradise have been gladdened4 ,the people1 however1 are utterly heedless4 ,were ,we to reveal thy station1 the hearts of men would be sorely agitated1 their footsteps would slip1 the embodiments of vain-glory would be dumbfounded1 would fall down upon the ground1 and would thrust the fingers of heedlessness into their ears1 for fear of hearing4 ,grieve thou not over those that have busied themselves with the things of this world1 and have forgotten the remembrance of ,god1 the ,most ,great4 ,by ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth6 ,the day is approaching when the wrathful anger of the ,almighty will have taken hold of them4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,omnipotent1 the ,all-,subduing1 the ,most ,powerful4 ,he shall cleanse the earth from the defilement of their corruption1 and shall give it for an heritage unto such of ,his servants as are nigh unto ,him4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,dust fill your mouths1 and ashes blind your eyes1 for having bartered away the ,divine ,joseph for the most paltry of prices4 ,oh1 the misery that resteth upon you1 ye that are far astray6 ,have ye imagined in your hearts that ye possess the power to outstrip ,him and ,his ,cause8 ,far from it6 ,to this ,he1 ,himself1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great1 doth testify4 ,soon shall the blasts of ,his chastisement beat upon you1 and the dust of hell enshroud you4 ,those men who1 having amassed the vanities and ornaments of the earth1 have turned away disdainfully from ,god--these have lost both this world and the world to come4 ,ere long1 will ,god1 with the ,hand of ,power1 strip them of their possessions1 and divest them of the robe of ,his bounty4 ,to this they themselves shall soon witness4 ,thou1 too1 shalt testify4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,let not this life and its deceits deceive you1 for the world and all that is therein is held firmly in the grasp of ,his ,will4 ,he bestoweth ,his favor on whom ,he willeth1 and from whom ,he willeth ,he taketh it away4 ,he doth whatsoever ,he chooseth4 ,had the world been of any worth in ,his sight1 ,he surely would never have allowed ,his enemies to possess it1 even to the extent of a grain of mustard seed4 ,he hath1 however1 caused you to be entangled with its affairs1 in return for what your hands have wrought in ,his ,cause4 ,this1 indeed1 is a chastisement which ye1 of your own will1 have inflicted upon yourselves1 could ye but perceive it4 ,are ye rejoicing in the things which1 according to the estimate of ,god1 are contemptible and worthless1 things wherewith ,he proveth the hearts of the doubtful8 ,,civ3 ,o ,,ye ,,peoples ,,of ,,the ,,world6 ,,know1 ,,verily1444 ,o ye peoples of the world6 ,know1 verily1 that an unforeseen calamity is following you1 and that grievous retribution awaiteth you4 ,think not the deeds ye have committed have been blotted from ,my sight4 ,by ,my beauty6 ,all your doings hath ,my ,pen graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite4 ,,cv3 ,o ,,kings ,,of ,,the ,,earth6 ,,he ,,who ,,is ,,the ,,sovereign444 ,o kings of the earth6 ,he ,who is the sovereign ,lord of all is come4 ,the ,kingdom is ,god's1 the omnipotent ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,worship none but ,god1 and1 with radiant hearts1 lift up your faces unto your ,lord1 the ,lord of all names4 ,this is a ,revelation to which whatever ye possess can never be compared1 could ye but know it4 ,we see you rejoicing in that which ye have amassed for others and shutting out yourselves from the worlds which naught except ,my guarded ,tablet can reckon4 ,the treasures ye have laid up have drawn you far away from your ultimate objective4 ,this ill beseemeth you1 could ye but understand it4 ,wash your hearts from all earthly defilements1 and hasten to enter the ,kingdom of your ,lord1 the ,creator of earth and heaven1 ,who caused the world to tremble and all its peoples to wail1 except them that have renounced all things and clung to that which the ,hidden ,tablet hath ordained4 ,this is the ,day in which ,he ,who held converse with ,god hath attained the light of the ,ancient of ,days1 and quaffed the pure waters of reunion from this ,cup that hath caused the seas to swell4 ,say3 ,by the one true ,god6 ,sinai is circling round the ,day ,spring of ,revelation1 while from the heights of the ,kingdom the ,voice of the ,spirit of ,god is heard proclaiming3 8,bestir yourselves1 ye proud ones of the earth1 and hasten ye unto ,him40 ,carmel hath1 in this ,day1 hastened in longing adoration to attain ,his court1 whilst from the heart of ,zion there cometh the cry3 8,the promise is fulfilled4 ,that which had been announced in the holy ,writ of ,god1 the most ,exalted1 the ,almighty1 the ,best-,beloved1 is made manifest40 ,o kings of the earth6 ,the ,most ,great ,law hath been revealed in this ,spot1 this scene of transcendent splendor4 ,every hidden thing hath been brought to light1 by virtue of the ,will of the ,supreme ,ordainer1 ,he ,who hath ushered in the ,last ,hour1 through ,whom the ,moon hath been cleft1 and every irrevocable decree expounded4 ,ye are but vassals1 ,o kings of the earth6 ,he ,who is the ,king of ,kings hath appeared1 arrayed in ,his most wondrous glory1 and is summoning you unto ,himself1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,take heed lest pride deter you from recognizing the ,source of ,revelation1 lest the things of this world shut you out as by a veil from ,him ,who is the ,creator of heaven4 ,arise1 and serve ,him ,who is the ,desire of all nations1 ,who hath created you through a word from ,him1 and ordained you to be1 for all time1 the emblems of ,his sovereignty4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,it is not ,our wish to lay hands on your kingdoms4 ,our mission is to seize and possess the hearts of men4 ,upon them the eyes of ,bah are fastened4 ,to this testifieth the ,kingdom of ,names1 could ye but comprehend it4 ,whoso followeth his ,lord1 will renounce the world and all that is therein2 how much greater1 then1 must be the detachment of ,him ,who holdeth so august a station6 ,forsake your palaces1 and haste ye to gain admittance into ,his ,kingdom4 ,this1 indeed1 will profit you both in this world and in the next4 ,to this testifieth the ,lord of the realm on high1 did ye but know it4 ,how great the blessedness that awaiteth the king who will arise to aid ,my ,cause in ,my ,kingdom1 who will detach himself from all else but ,me6 ,such a king is numbered with the companions of the ,crimson ,ark--the ,ark which ,god hath prepared for the people of ,bah4 ,all must glorify his name1 must reverence his station1 and aid him to unlock the cities with the keys of ,my ,name1 the omnipotent ,protector of all that inhabit the visible and invisible kingdoms4 ,such a king is the very eye of mankind1 the luminous ornament on the brow of creation1 the fountain-head of blessings unto the whole world4 ,offer up1 ,o people of ,bah1 your substance1 nay your very lives1 for his assistance4 ,,cvi3 ,,the ,,all-,,knowing ,,physician ,,hath ,,his ,,finger444 ,the ,all-,knowing ,physician hath ,his finger on the pulse of mankind4 ,he perceiveth the disease1 and prescribeth1 in ,his unerring wisdom1 the remedy4 ,every age hath its own problem1 and every soul its particular aspiration4 ,the remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require4 ,be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in1 and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements4 ,we can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed with great1 with incalculable afflictions4 ,we see it languishing on its bed of sickness1 sore-tried and disillusioned4 ,they that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and the ,divine and infallible ,physician4 ,witness how they have entangled all men1 themselves included1 in the mesh of their devices4 ,they can neither discover the cause of the disease1 nor have they any knowledge of the remedy4 ,they have conceived the straight to be crooked1 and have imagined their friend an enemy4 ,incline your ears to the sweet melody of this ,prisoner4 ,arise1 and lift up your voices1 that haply they that are fast asleep may be awakened4 ,say3 ,o ye who are as dead6 ,the ,hand of ,divine bounty proffereth unto you the ,water of ,life4 ,hasten and drink your fill4 ,whoso hath been re-born in this ,day1 shall never die2 whoso remaineth dead1 shall never live4 ,,cvii3 ,,he ,,who ,,is ,,your ,,lord1 ,,the ,,all-,,merciful1444 ,he ,who is your ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 cherisheth in ,his heart the desire of beholding the entire human race as one soul and one body4 ,haste ye to win your share of ,god's good grace and mercy in this ,day that eclipseth all other created ,days4 ,how great the felicity that awaiteth the man that forsaketh all he hath in a desire to obtain the things of ,god6 ,such a man1 ,we testify1 is among ,god's blessed ones4 ,,cviii3 ,,we ,,have ,a ,,fixed ,,time ,,for ,,you1 ,o ,,peoples4444 ,we have a fixed time for you1 ,o peoples4 ,if ye fail1 at the appointed hour1 to turn towards ,god1 ,he1 verily1 will lay violent hold on you1 and will cause grievous afflictions to assail you from every direction4 ,how severe1 indeed1 is the chastisement with which your ,lord will then chastise you6 ,,cix3 ,o ,,kam,l6 ,,the ,,heights ,,which1 ,,through ,,the444 ,o ,kaml6 ,the heights which1 through the most gracious favor of ,god1 mortal man can attain1 in this ,day1 are as yet unrevealed to his sight4 ,the world of being hath never had1 nor doth it yet possess the capacity for such a revelation4 ,the day1 however1 is approaching when the potentialities of so great a favor will1 by virtue of ,his behest1 be manifested unto men4 ,though the forces of the nations be arrayed against ,him1 though the kings of the earth be leagued to undermine ,his ,cause1 the power of ,his might shall stand unshaken4 ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth1 and summoneth all mankind to the way of ,him ,who is the ,incomparable1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,all men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization4 ,the ,almighty beareth ,me witness3 ,to act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man4 ,those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance1 mercy1 compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth4 ,say3 ,o friends6 ,drink your fill from this crystal stream that floweth through the heavenly grace of ,him ,who is the ,lord of ,names4 ,let others partake of its waters in ,my name1 that the leaders of men in every land may fully recognize the purpose for which the ,eternal ,truth hath been revealed1 and the reason for which they themselves have been created4 ,,cx3 ,,the ,,great ,,being ,,saith3 ,o ,,ye ,,children ,,of ,,men6444 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,o ye children of men6 ,the fundamental purpose animating the ,faith of ,god and ,his ,religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race1 and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men4 ,suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord1 of hate and enmity4 ,this is the straight ,path1 the fixed and immovable foundation4 ,whatsoever is raised on this foundation1 the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength1 nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure4 ,our hope is that the world's religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes4 ,let them1 after meditating on its needs1 take counsel together and1 through anxious and full deliberation1 administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth4444 ,it is incumbent upon them who are in authority to exercise moderation in all things4 ,whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence4 ,consider for instance such things as liberty1 civilization and the like4 ,however much men of understanding may favorably regard them1 they will1 if carried to excess1 exercise a pernicious influence upon men4444 ,please ,god1 the peoples of the world may be led1 as the result of the high endeavors exerted by their rulers and the wise and learned amongst men1 to recognize their best interests4 ,how long will humanity persist in its waywardness8 ,how long will injustice continue8 ,how long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men8 ,how long will discord agitate the face of society8444 ,the winds of despair are1 alas1 blowing from every direction1 and the strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily increasing4 ,the signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned1 inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective4 ,i beseech ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 that ,he may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth1 may grant that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them1 and aid them to accomplish that which beseemeth their station4 ,,cxi3 ,o ,,contending ,,peoples ,,and ,,kindreds ,,of ,,the444 ,o contending peoples and kindreds of the earth6 ,set your faces towards unity1 and let the radiance of its light shine upon you4 ,gather ye together1 and for the sake of ,god resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you4 ,then will the effulgence of the world's great ,luminary envelop the whole earth1 and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city1 and the occupants of one and the same throne4 ,this wronged ,one hath1 ever since the early days of ,his life1 cherished none other desire but this1 and will continue to entertain no wish except this wish4 ,there can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world1 of whatever race or religion1 derive their inspiration from one heavenly ,source1 and are the subjects of one ,god4 ,the difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed4 ,all of them1 except a few which are the outcome of human perversity1 were ordained of ,god1 and are a reflection of ,his ,will and ,purpose4 ,arise and1 armed with the power of faith1 shatter to pieces the gods of your vain imaginings1 the sowers of dissension amongst you4 ,cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you4 ,this1 verily1 is the most exalted ,word which the ,mother ,book hath sent down and revealed unto you4 ,to this beareth witness the ,tongue of ,grandeur from ,his habitation of glory4 ,,cxii3 ,,behold ,,the ,,disturbances ,,which1 ,,for ,,many ,a444 ,behold the disturbances which1 for many a long year1 have afflicted the earth1 and the perturbation that hath seized its peoples4 ,it hath either been ravaged by war1 or tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities4 ,though the world is encompassed with misery and distress1 yet no man hath paused to reflect what the cause or source of that may be4 ,whenever the ,true ,counsellor uttered a word in admonishment1 lo1 they all denounced ,him as a mover of mischief and rejected ,his claim4 ,how bewildering1 how confusing is such behavior6 ,no two men can be found who may be said to be outwardly and inwardly united4 ,the evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere1 though all were made for harmony and union4 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,o well-beloved ones6 ,the tabernacle of unity hath been raised2 regard ye not one another as strangers4 ,ye are the fruits of one tree1 and the leaves of one branch4 ,we cherish the hope that the light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from tyranny4 ,if the rulers and kings of the earth1 the symbols of the power of ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity1 the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the children of men1 and the effulgence of its light will envelop the whole earth4 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,the structure of world stability and order hath been reared upon1 and will continue to be sustained by1 the twin pillars of reward and punishment4444 ,in another passage ,he hath written3 ,take heed1 ,o concourse of the rulers of the world6 ,there is no force on earth that can equal in its conquering power the force of justice and wisdom4444 ,blessed is the king who marcheth with the ensign of wisdom unfurled before him1 and the battalions of justice massed in his rear4 ,he verily is the ornament that adorneth the brow of peace and the countenance of security4 ,there can be no doubt whatever that if the day star of justice1 which the clouds of tyranny have obscured1 were to shed its light upon men1 the face of the earth would be completely transformed4 ,,cxiii3 ,,dost ,,thou ,,imagine1 ,o ,,minister ,,of ,,the ,,sh,h444 ,dost thou imagine1 ,o ,minister of the ,shh in the ,city 7,constantinople71 that ,i hold within ,my grasp the ultimate destiny of the ,cause of ,god8 ,thinkest thou that ,my imprisonment1 or the shame ,i have been made to suffer1 or even ,my death and utter annihilation1 can deflect its course8 ,wretched is what thou hast imagined in thine heart6 ,thou art indeed of them that walk after the vain imaginings which their hearts devise4 ,no ,god is there but ,him4 ,powerful is ,he to manifest ,his ,cause1 and to exalt ,his testimony1 and to establish whatsoever is ,his ,will1 and to elevate it to so eminent a position that neither thine own hands1 nor the hands of them that have turned away from ,him1 can ever touch or harm it4 ,dost thou believe thou hast the power to frustrate ,his ,will1 to hinder ,him from executing ,his judgment1 or to deter ,him from exercising ,his sovereignty8 ,pretendest thou that aught in the heavens or in the earth can resist ,his ,faith8 ,no1 by ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth6 ,nothing whatsoever in the whole of creation can thwart ,his ,purpose4 ,cast away1 therefore1 the mere conceit thou dost follow1 for mere conceit can never take the place of truth4 ,be thou of them that have truly repented and returned to ,god1 the ,god ,who hath created thee1 ,who hath nourished thee1 and made thee a minister among them that profess thy faith4 ,know thou1 moreover1 that ,he it is ,who hath1 by ,his own behest1 created all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,how can1 then1 the thing that hath been created at ,his bidding prevail against ,him8 ,high is ,god exalted above what ye imagine about ,him1 ye people of malice6 ,if this ,cause be of ,god1 no man can prevail against it2 and if it be not of ,god1 the divines amongst you1 and they that follow their corrupt desires and such as have rebelled against ,him will surely suffice to overpower it4 ,hast thou not heard what a man of the family of ,pharaoh1 a believer1 hath said of old1 and which ,god recounted unto ,his ,apostle1 ,whom ,he hath chosen above all human beings1 and entrusted with ,his ,message1 and made the source of ,his mercy unto all them that dwell on earth8 ,he said1 and ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth3 8,will ye slay a man because he saith my ,lord is ,god1 when he hath already come to you with proofs of his mission8 ,and if he be a liar1 on him will be his lie1 but if he be a man of truth1 part at least of what he threateneth will fall upon you40 ,this is what ,god hath revealed unto ,his ,well-,beloved ,one1 in ,his unerring ,book4 ,and yet1 ye have failed to incline your ears unto ,his bidding1 have disregarded ,his law1 have rejected ,his counsel as recorded in ,his ,book1 and have been of them that have strayed far from ,him4 ,how many those who1 every year1 and every month1 have because of you been put to death6 ,how manifold the injustices ye have perpetrated--injustices the like of which the eye of creation hath not seen1 which no chronicler hath ever recorded6 ,how numerous the babes and sucklings who were made orphans1 and the fathers who lost their sons1 because of your cruelty1 ,o ye unjust doers6 ,how oft hath a sister pined away and mourned over her brother1 and how oft hath a wife lamented after her husband and sole sustainer6 ,your iniquity waxed greater and greater until ye slew ,him ,who had never taken ,his eyes away from the face of ,god1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,would that ye had put ,him to death after the manner men are wont to put one another to death6 ,ye slew ,him1 however1 in such circumstances as no man hath ever witnessed4 ,the heavens wept sore over ,him1 and the souls of them who are nigh unto ,god cried out for ,his affliction4 ,was ,he not a ,scion of your ,prophet's ancient ,house8 ,had not ,his fame as a direct descendant of the ,apostle been spread abroad amongst you8 ,why1 then1 did ye inflict upon ,him what no man1 however far ye may look back1 hath inflicted upon another8 ,by ,god6 ,the eye of creation hath never beheld your like4 ,ye slay ,him ,who is a ,scion of your ,prophet's ,house1 and rejoice and make merry while seated on your seats of honor6 ,ye utter your imprecations against them who were before you1 and who have perpetrated what ye have perpetrated1 and remain yourselves all the time unaware of your enormities6 ,be fair in your judgment4 ,did they whom you curse1 upon whom ye invoke evil1 act differently from yourselves8 ,have they not slain the descendant of their ,prophet as ye have slain the descendant of your own8 ,is not your conduct similar to their conduct8 ,wherefore1 then1 claim ye to be different from them1 ,o ye sowers of dissension amongst men8 ,and when ye took away ,his life1 one of ,his followers arose to avenge ,his death4 ,he was unknown of men1 and the design he had conceived was unnoticed by any one4 ,eventually he committed what had been preordained4 ,it behoveth you1 therefore1 to attach blame to no one except to yourselves1 for the things ye have committed1 if ye but judge fairly4 ,who is there on the whole earth who hath done what ye have done8 ,none1 by ,him ,who is the ,lord of all worlds6 ,all the rulers and kings of the earth honor and revere the descendants of their ,prophets and holy men1 could ye but perceive it4 ,ye1 on the other hand1 are responsible for such acts as no man hath1 at any time1 performed4 ,your misdeeds have caused every understanding heart to be consumed with grief4 ,and yet1 ye have remained sunk in your heedlessness1 and failed to realize the wickedness of your actions4 ,ye have persisted in your waywardness until ye rose up against ,us1 though ,we had committed nothing to justify your enmity4 ,fear ye not ,god ,who hath created you1 and fashioned you1 and caused you to attain your strength1 and joined you with them that have resigned themselves to ,him 7,muslims78 ,how long will ye persist in your waywardness8 ,how long will ye refuse to reflect8 ,how long ere ye shake off your slumber and are roused from your heedlessness8 ,how long will ye remain unaware of the truth8 ,ponder in thine heart4 ,did ye1 notwithstanding your behavior and the things your hands have wrought1 succeed in quenching the fire of ,god or in putting out the light of ,his ,revelation--a light that hath enveloped with its brightness them that are immersed in the billowing oceans of immortality1 and hath attracted the souls of such as truly believe in and uphold ,his unity8 ,know ye not that the ,hand of ,god is over your hands1 that ,his irrevocable ,decree transcendeth all your devices1 that ,he is supreme over ,his servants1 that ,he is equal to ,his ,purpose1 that ,he doth what ,he wisheth1 that ,he shall not be asked of whatever ,he willeth1 that ,he ordaineth what ,he pleaseth1 that ,he is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty8 ,if ye believe this to be the truth1 wherefore1 then1 will ye not cease from troubling and be at peace with yourselves8 ,ye perpetrate every day a fresh injustice1 and treat ,me as ye treated ,me in times past1 though ,i never attempted to meddle with your affairs4 ,at no time have ,i opposed you1 neither have ,i rebelled against your laws4 ,behold how ye have1 at the last1 made ,me a prisoner in this far-off land6 ,know for a certainty1 however1 that whatever your hands or the hands of the infidels have wrought will never1 as they never did of old1 change the ,cause of ,god or alter ,his ways4 ,give heed to ,my warning1 ye people of ,persia6 ,if ,i be slain at your hands1 ,god will assuredly raise up one who will fill the seat made vacant through ,my death1 for such is ,god's method carried into effect of old1 and no change can ye find in ,god's method of dealing4 ,seek ye to put out ,god's light that shineth upon ,his earth8 ,averse is ,god from what ye desire4 ,he shall perfect ,his light1 albeit ye abhor it in the secret of your hearts4 ,pause for but a little while and reflect1 ,o ,minister1 and be fair in thy judgment4 ,what is it that ,we have committed that could justify thee in having slandered ,us unto the ,king's ,ministers1 in following thy desires1 in perverting the truth1 and in uttering thy calumnies against ,us8 ,we have never met each other except when ,we met thee in thy father's house1 in the days when the martyrdom of ,imm usayn was being commemorated4 ,on those occasions no one could have the chance of making known to others his views and beliefs in conversation or in discourse4 ,thou wilt bear witness to the truth of ,my words1 if thou be of the truthful4 ,i have frequented no other gatherings in which thou couldst have learned ,my mind or in which any other could have done so4 ,how1 then1 didst thou pronounce thy verdict against ,me1 when thou hadst not heard ,my testimony from ,mine own lips8 ,hast thou not heard what ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 hath said3 8,say not to every one who meeteth you with a greeting1 #8,thou art not a believer'40 8,thrust not away those who cry to their ,lord at morn and even1 craving to behold ,his face40 ,thou hast indeed forsaken what the ,book of ,god hath prescribed1 and yet thou deemest thyself to be a believer6 ,despite what thou hast done ,i entertain--and to this ,god is ,my witness--no ill-will against thee1 nor against any one1 though from thee and others ,we receive such hurt as no believer in the unity of ,god can sustain4 ,my cause is in the hand of none except ,god1 and ,my trust is in no one else but ,him4 ,erelong shall your days pass away1 as shall pass away the days of those who now1 with flagrant pride1 vaunt themselves over their neighbor4 ,soon shall ye be gathered together in the presence of ,god1 and shall be asked of your doings1 and shall be repaid for what your hands have wrought1 and wretched the abode of the wicked doers6 ,by ,god6 ,wert thou to realize what thou hast done1 thou wouldst surely weep sore over thyself1 and wouldst flee for refuge to ,god1 and wouldst pine away and mourn all the days of thy life1 till ,god will have forgiven thee1 for ,he1 verily1 is the ,most ,generous1 the ,all-,bountiful4 ,thou wilt1 however1 persist1 till the hour of thy death1 in thy heedlessness1 inasmuch as thou hast1 with all thine heart1 thy soul and inmost being1 busied thyself with the vanities of the world4 ,thou shalt1 after thy departure1 discover what ,we have revealed unto thee1 and shalt find all thy doings recorded in the ,book wherein the works of all them that dwell on earth1 be they greater or less than the weight of an atom1 are noted down4 ,heed1 therefore1 ,my counsel1 and hearken thou1 with the hearing of thine heart1 unto ,my speech1 and be not careless of ,my words1 nor be of them that reject ,my truth4 ,glory not in the things that have been given thee4 ,set before thine eyes what hath been revealed in the ,book of ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,all-,glorious3 8,and when they had forgotten their warnings1 ,we set open to them the gates of all things10 even as ,we did set open to thee and to thy like the gates of this earth and the ornaments thereof4 ,wait thou1 therefore1 for what hath been promised in the latter part of this holy verse1 for this is a promise from ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise--a promise that will not prove untrue4 ,i know not the path ye have chosen and which ye tread1 ,o congregation of ,my ill-wishers6 ,we summon you to ,god1 ,we remind you of ,his ,day1 ,we announce unto you tidings of your reunion with ,him1 ,we draw you nigh unto ,his court1 and send down upon you tokens of ,his wondrous wisdom1 and yet lo1 behold how ye reject ,us1 how ye condemn ,us1 through the things which your lying mouths have uttered1 as an infidel1 how ye devise your devices against ,us6 ,and when ,we manifest unto you what ,god hath1 through ,his bountiful favor1 bestowed upon ,us1 ye say1 8,it is but plain magic40 ,the same words were spoken by the generations that were before you and were what you are1 did ye but perceive it4 ,ye have thereby deprived yourselves of the bounty of ,god and of ,his grace1 and shall never obtain them till the day when ,god will have judged between ,us and you1 and ,he1 verily1 is the best of ,judges4 ,certain ones among you have said3 8,he it is ,who hath laid claim to be ,god40 ,by ,god6 ,this is a gross calumny4 ,i am but a servant of ,god ,who hath believed in ,him and in ,his signs1 and in ,his ,prophets and in ,his angels4 ,my tongue1 and ,my heart1 and ,my inner and ,my outer being testify that there is no ,god but ,him1 that all others have been created by ,his behest1 and been fashioned through the operation of ,his ,will4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him1 the ,creator1 the ,raiser from the dead1 the ,quickener1 the ,slayer4 ,i am ,he that telleth abroad the favors with which ,god hath1 through ,his bounty1 favored ,me4 ,if this be ,my transgression1 then ,i am truly the first of the transgressors4 ,i and ,my kindred are at your mercy4 ,do ye as ye please1 and be not of them that hesitate1 that ,i might return to ,god ,my ,lord1 and reach the place where ,i can no longer behold your faces4 ,this1 indeed1 is ,my dearest wish1 ,my most ardent desire4 ,of ,my state ,god is1 verily1 sufficiently informed1 observant4 ,imagine thyself to be under the eye of ,god1 ,o ,minister6 ,if thou seest ,him not1 ,he1 in truth1 clearly seeth thee4 ,observe1 and judge fairly ,our ,cause4 ,what is it that ,we have committed that could have induced thee to rise up against ,us1 and to slander ,us to the people1 if thou be of them who are just8 ,we departed out of ihrn1 at the bidding of the ,king1 and1 by his leave1 transferred ,our residence to #8,irq4 ,if ,i had transgressed against him1 why1 then1 did he release ,me8 ,and if ,i were innocent of guilt1 wherefore did ye afflict ,us with such tribulation as none among them that profess your faith hath suffered8 ,hath any of ,mine acts1 after ,mine arrival in #8,irq1 been such as to subvert the authority of the government8 ,who is it that can be said to have detected any thing reprehensible in ,our behavior8 ,enquire for thyself of its people1 that thou mayest be of them who have discerned the truth4 ,for eleven years ,we dwelt in that land1 until the ,minister representing thy government arrived1 whose name ,our pen is loth to mention1 who was given to wine1 who followed his lusts1 and committed wickedness1 and was corrupt and corrupted #8,irq4 ,to this will bear witness most of the inhabitants of ,baghdd1 wert thou to inquire of them1 and be of such as seek the truth4 ,he it was who wrongfully seized the substance of his fellow-men1 who forsook all the commandments of ,god1 and perpetrated whatever ,god had forbidden4 ,eventually1 he1 following his desires1 rose up against ,us1 and walked in the ways of the unjust4 ,he accused ,us1 in his letter to thee1 and thou didst believe him and followed in his way1 without seeking any proof or trustworthy evidence from him4 ,thou didst ask for no explanation1 nor didst thou attempt either to investigate or ascertain the matter1 that the truth might be distinguished from falsehood in thy sight1 and that thou mightest be clear in thy discernment4 ,find out for thyself the sort of man he was by asking those ,ministers who were1 at that time1 in #8,irq1 as well as the ,governor of the ,city 7,baghdd7 and its high ,counsellor1 that the truth may be revealed to thee1 and that thou mayest be of the well-informed4 ,god is ,our witness6 ,we have1 under no circumstances1 opposed either him1 or others4 ,we observed1 under all conditions1 the precepts of ,god1 and were never one of those that wrought disorders4 ,to this he himself doth testify4 ,his intention was to lay hold on ,us1 and send ,us back to ,persia1 that he might thereby exalt his fame and reputation4 ,thou hast committed the same crime1 and for the self-same purpose4 ,ye both are of equal grade in the sight of ,god1 the sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,it is not ,our purpose in addressing to thee these words to lighten the burden of ,our woe1 or to induce thee to intercede for ,us with any one4 ,no1 by ,him ,who is the ,lord of all worlds6 ,we have set forth the whole matter before thee1 that perchance thou might realize what thou hast done1 might desist from inflicting on others the hurt thou hast inflicted on ,us1 and might be of them that have truly repented to ,god1 ,who created thee and created all things1 and might act with discernment in the future4 ,better is this for thee than all thou dost possess1 than thy ministry whose days are numbered4 ,beware lest thou be led to connive at injustice4 ,set thy heart firmly upon justice1 and alter not the ,cause of ,god1 and be of them whose eyes are directed towards the things that have been revealed in ,his ,book4 ,follow not1 under any condition1 the promptings of thine evil desires4 ,keep thou the law of ,god1 thy ,lord1 the ,beneficent1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,thou shalt most certainly return to dust1 and shalt perish like all the things in which thou takest delight4 ,this is what the ,tongue of truth and glory hath spoken4 ,rememberest thou not ,god's warning uttered in times past1 that thou mayest be of them that heed ,his warning8 ,he said1 and ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth3 8,from it 7earth7 have ,we created you1 and unto it will ,we return you1 and out of it will ,we bring you forth a second time40 ,this is what ,god ordained unto all them that dwell on earth1 be they high or low4 ,it behoveth not1 therefore1 him who was created from dust1 who will return unto it1 and will again be brought forth out of it1 to swell with pride before ,god1 and before ,his loved ones1 to proudly scorn them1 and be filled with disdainful arrogance4 ,nay1 rather it behoveth thee and those like thee to submit yourselves to them ,who are the ,manifestations of the unity of ,god1 and to defer humbly to the faithful1 who have forsaken their all for the sake of ,god1 and have detached themselves from the things which engross men's attention1 and lead them astray from the path of ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,thus do ,we send down upon you that which shall profit you and profit them that have placed their whole trust and confidence in their ,lord4 ,,cxiv3 ,,hearken1 ,o ,,king 7,,sul,n #8,,abdu',l-#8,,az,z71444 ,hearken1 ,o ,king 7,suln #8,abdu'l-#8,azz71 to the speech of ,him that speaketh the truth1 ,him that doth not ask thee to recompense ,him with the things ,god hath chosen to bestow upon thee1 ,him ,who unerringly treadeth the straight ,path4 ,he it is ,who summoneth thee unto ,god1 thy ,lord1 ,who showeth thee the right course1 the way that leadeth to true felicity1 that haply thou mayest be of them with whom it shall be well4 ,beware1 ,o ,king1 that thou gather not around thee such ministers as follow the desires of a corrupt inclination1 as have cast behind their backs that which hath been committed into their hands and manifestly betrayed their trust4 ,be bounteous to others as ,god hath been bounteous to thee1 and abandon not the interests of thy people to the mercy of such ministers as these4 ,lay not aside the fear of ,god1 and be thou of them that act uprightly4 ,gather around thee those ministers from whom thou canst perceive the fragrance of faith and of justice1 and take thou counsel with them1 and choose whatever is best in thy sight1 and be of them that act generously4 ,know thou for a certainty that whoso disbelieveth in ,god is neither trustworthy nor truthful4 ,this1 indeed1 is the truth1 the undoubted truth4 ,he that acteth treacherously towards ,god will1 also1 act treacherously towards his king4 ,nothing whatever can deter such a man from evil1 nothing can hinder him from betraying his neighbor1 nothing can induce him to walk uprightly4 ,take heed that thou resign not the reins of the affairs of thy state into the hands of others1 and repose not thy confidence in ministers unworthy of thy trust1 and be not of them that live in heedlessness4 ,shun them whose hearts are turned away from thee1 and place not thy confidence in them1 and entrust them not with thine affairs and the affairs of such as profess thy faith4 ,beware that thou allow not the wolf to become the shepherd of ,god's flock1 and surrender not the fate of ,his loved ones to the mercy of the malicious4 ,expect not that they who violate the ordinances of ,god will be trustworthy or sincere in the faith they profess4 ,avoid them1 and preserve strict guard over thyself1 lest their devices and mischief hurt thee4 ,turn away from them1 and fix thy gaze upon ,god1 thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,bountiful4 ,he that giveth up himself wholly to ,god1 ,god shall1 assuredly1 be with him2 and he that placeth his complete trust in ,god1 ,god shall1 verily1 protect him from whatsoever may harm him1 and shield him from the wickedness of every evil plotter4 ,wert thou to incline thine ear unto ,my speech and observe ,my counsel1 ,god would exalt thee to so eminent a position that the designs of no man on the whole earth can ever touch or hurt thee4 ,observe1 ,o ,king1 with thine inmost heart and with thy whole being1 the precepts of ,god1 and walk not in the paths of the oppressor4 ,seize thou1 and hold firmly within the grasp of thy might1 the reins of the affairs of thy people1 and examine in person whatever pertaineth unto them4 ,let nothing escape thee1 for therein lieth the highest good4 ,render thanks unto ,god for having chosen thee out of the whole world1 and made thee king over them that profess thy faith4 ,it well beseemeth thee to appreciate the wondrous favors with which ,god hath favored thee1 and to magnify continually ,his name4 ,thou canst best praise ,him if thou lovest ,his loved ones1 and dost safeguard and protect ,his servants from the mischief of the treacherous1 that none may any longer oppress them4 ,thou shouldst1 moreover1 arise to enforce the law of ,god amongst them1 that thou mayest be of those who are firmly established in ,his law4 ,shouldst thou cause rivers of justice to spread their waters amongst thy subjects1 ,god would surely aid thee with the hosts of the unseen and of the seen1 and would strengthen thee in thine affairs4 ,no ,god is there but ,him4 ,all creation and its empire are ,his4 ,unto ,him return the works of the faithful4 ,place not thy reliance on thy treasures4 ,put thy whole confidence in the grace of ,god1 thy ,lord4 ,let ,him be thy trust in whatever thou doest1 and be of them that have submitted themselves to ,his ,will4 ,let ,him be thy helper and enrich thyself with ,his treasures1 for with ,him are the treasuries of the heavens and of the earth4 ,he bestoweth them upon whom ,he will1 and from whom ,he will ,he withholdeth them4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,all-,praised4 ,all are but paupers at the door of ,his mercy2 all are helpless before the revelation of ,his sovereignty1 and beseech ,his favors4 ,overstep not the bounds of moderation1 and deal justly with them that serve thee4 ,bestow upon them according to their needs1 and not to the extent that will enable them to lay up riches for themselves1 to deck their persons1 to embellish their homes1 to acquire the things that are of no benefit unto them1 and to be numbered with the extravagant4 ,deal with them with undeviating justice1 so that none among them may either suffer want1 or be pampered with luxuries4 ,this is but manifest justice4 ,allow not the abject to rule over and dominate them who are noble and worthy of honor1 and suffer not the high-minded to be at the mercy of the contemptible and worthless1 for this is what ,we observed upon ,our arrival in the ,city 7,constantinople71 and to it ,we bear witness4 ,we found among its inhabitants some who were possessed of an affluent fortune and lived in the midst of excessive riches1 while others were in dire want and abject poverty4 ,this ill beseemeth thy sovereignty1 and is unworthy of thy rank4 ,let ,my counsel be acceptable to thee1 and strive thou to rule with equity among men1 that ,god may exalt thy name and spread abroad the fame of thy justice in all the world4 ,beware lest thou aggrandize thy ministers at the expense of thy subjects4 ,fear the sighs of the poor and of the upright in heart who1 at every break of day1 bewail their plight1 and be unto them a benignant sovereign4 ,they1 verily1 are thy treasures on earth4 ,it behoveth thee1 therefore1 to safeguard thy treasures from the assaults of them who wish to rob thee4 ,inquire into their affairs1 and ascertain1 every year1 nay every month1 their condition1 and be not of them that are careless of their duty4 ,set before thine eyes ,god's unerring ,balance and1 as one standing in ,his ,presence1 weigh in that ,balance thine actions every day1 every moment of thy life4 ,bring thyself to account ere thou art summoned to a reckoning1 on the ,day when no man shall have strength to stand for fear of ,god1 the ,day when the hearts of the heedless ones shall be made to tremble4 ,it behoveth every king to be as bountiful as the sun1 which fostereth the growth of all beings1 and giveth to each its due1 whose benefits are not inherent in itself1 but are ordained by ,him ,who is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,almighty4 ,the ,king should be as generous1 as liberal in his mercy as the clouds1 the outpourings of whose bounty are showered upon every land1 by the behest of ,him ,who is the ,supreme ,ordainer1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,have a care not to entrust thine affairs of state entirely into another's hands4 ,none can discharge thy functions better than thine own self4 ,thus do ,we make clear unto thee ,our words of wisdom1 and send down upon thee that which can enable thee to pass over from the left hand of oppression to the right hand of justice1 and approach the resplendent ocean of ,his favors4 ,such is the path which the kings that were before thee have trodden1 they that acted equitably towards their subjects1 and walked in the ways of undeviating justice4 ,thou art ,god's shadow on earth4 ,strive1 therefore1 to act in such a manner as befitteth so eminent1 so august a station4 ,if thou dost depart from following the things ,we have caused to descend upon thee and taught thee1 thou wilt1 assuredly1 be derogating from that great and priceless honor4 ,return1 then1 and cleave wholly unto ,god1 and cleanse thine heart from the world and all its vanities1 and suffer not the love of any stranger to enter and dwell therein4 ,not until thou dost purify thine heart from every trace of such love can the brightness of the light of ,god shed its radiance upon it1 for to none hath ,god given more than one heart4 ,this1 verily1 hath been decreed and written down in ,his ancient ,book4 ,and as the human heart1 as fashioned by ,god1 is one and undivided1 it behoveth thee to take heed that its affections be1 also1 one and undivided4 ,cleave thou1 therefore1 with the whole affection of thine heart1 unto ,his love1 and withdraw it from the love of any one besides ,him1 that ,he may aid thee to immerse thyself in the ocean of ,his unity1 and enable thee to become a true upholder of ,his oneness4 ,god is ,my witness4 ,my sole purpose in revealing to thee these words is to sanctify thee from the transitory things of the earth1 and aid thee to enter the realm of everlasting glory1 that thou mayest1 by the leave of ,god1 be of them that abide and rule therein4444 ,i swear by ,god1 ,o ,king6 ,it is not ,my wish to make ,my plaint to thee against them that persecute ,me4 ,i only plead ,my grief and ,my sorrow to ,god1 ,who hath created ,me and them1 ,who well knoweth our state and ,who watcheth over all things4 ,my wish is to warn them of the consequences of their actions1 if perchance they might desist from treating others as they have treated ,me1 and be of them that heed ,my warning4 ,the tribulations that have touched ,us1 the destitution from which ,we suffer1 the various troubles with which ,we are encompassed1 shall all pass away1 as shall pass away the pleasures in which they delight and the affluence they enjoy4 ,this is the truth which no man on earth can reject4 ,the days in which ,we have been compelled to dwell in the dust will soon be ended1 as will the days in which they occupied the seats of honor4 ,god shall1 assuredly1 judge with truth between ,us and them1 and ,he1 verily1 is the best of judges4 ,we render thanks unto ,god for whatsoever hath befallen ,us1 and ,we patiently endure the things ,he hath ordained in the past or will ordain in the future4 ,in ,him have ,i placed ,my trust2 and into ,his hands have ,i committed ,my ,cause4 ,he will1 certainly1 repay all them that endure with patience and put their confidence in ,him4 ,his is the creation and its empire4 ,he exalteth whom ,he will1 and whom ,he will ,he doth abase4 ,he shall not be asked of ,his doings4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,glorious1 the ,almighty4 ,let thine ear be attentive1 ,o ,king1 to the words ,we have addressed to thee4 ,let the oppressor desist from his tyranny1 and cut off the perpetrators of injustice from among them that profess thy faith4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,the tribulations ,we have sustained are such that any pen that recounteth them cannot but be overwhelmed with anguish4 ,no one of them that truly believe and uphold the unity of ,god can bear the burden of their recital4 ,so great have been ,our sufferings that even the eyes of ,our enemies have wept over ,us1 and beyond them those of every discerning person4 ,and to all these trials have ,we been subjected1 in spite of ,our action in approaching thee1 and in bidding the people to enter beneath thy shadow1 that thou mightest be a stronghold unto them that believe in and uphold the unity of ,god4 ,have ,i1 ,o ,king1 ever disobeyed thee8 ,have ,i1 at any time1 transgressed any of thy laws8 ,can any of thy ministers that represented thee in #8,irq produce any proof that can establish my disloyalty to thee8 ,no1 by ,him ,who is the ,lord of all worlds6 ,not for one short moment did ,we rebel against thee1 or against any of thy ministers4 ,never1 ,god willing1 shall ,we revolt against thee1 though ,we be exposed to trials more severe than any ,we suffered in the past4 ,in the day time and in the night season1 at even and at morn1 ,we pray to ,god on thy behalf1 that ,he may graciously aid thee to be obedient unto ,him and to observe ,his commandment1 that ,he may shield thee from the hosts of the evil ones4 ,do1 therefore1 as it pleaseth thee1 and treat ,us as befitteth thy station and beseemeth thy sovereignty4 ,be not forgetful of the law of ,god in whatever thou desirest to achieve1 now or in the days to come4 ,say3 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds6 ,,cxv3 ,,the ,,pen ,,of ,,revelation1 ,o ,,dh,,ab,h1 ,,hath1 ,,in444 ,the ,pen of ,revelation1 ,o ,dhabh1 hath1 in most of the divinely-revealed ,tablets1 recorded these words3 ,we have admonished all the loved ones of ,god to take heed lest the hem of ,our sacred vesture be smirched with the mire of unlawful deeds1 or be stained with the dust of reprehensible conduct4 ,we have1 moreover1 exhorted them to fix their gaze upon whatsoever hath been revealed in ,our ,tablets4 ,had their inner ears been attentive to the ,divine counsels which have shone forth from the ,day ,spring of the ,pen of the ,all-,merciful1 and hearkened unto ,his ,voice1 most of the peoples of the earth would have by now been adorned with the ornament of ,his guidance4 ,what had been pre-ordained1 however1 hath come to pass4 ,once again doth the ,tongue of the ,ancient of ,days reveal1 while in this ,most ,great ,prison1 these words which are recorded in this snow-white ,scroll3 ,o ye the beloved of the one true ,god6 ,pass beyond the narrow retreats of your evil and corrupt desires1 and advance into the vast immensity of the realm of ,god1 and abide ye in the meads of sanctity and of detachment1 that the fragrance of your deeds may lead the whole of mankind to the ocean of ,god's unfading glory4 ,forbear ye from concerning yourselves with the affairs of this world and all that pertaineth unto it1 or from meddling with the activities of those who are its outward leaders4 ,the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 hath bestowed the government of the earth upon the kings4 ,to none is given the right to act in any manner that would run counter to the considered views of them who are in authority4 ,that which ,he hath reserved for ,himself are the cities of men's hearts2 and of these the loved ones of ,him ,who is the ,sovereign ,truth are1 in this ,day1 as the keys4 ,please ,god they may1 one and all1 be enabled to unlock1 through the power of the ,most ,great ,name1 the gates of these cities4 ,this is what is meant by aiding the one true ,god--a theme to which the ,pen of ,him ,who causeth the dawn to break hath referred in all ,his ,books and ,tablets4 ,it behoveth1 likewise1 the loved ones of ,god to be forbearing towards their fellow-men1 and to be so sanctified and detached from all things1 and to evince such sincerity and fairness1 that all the peoples of the earth may recognize them as the trustees of ,god amongst men4 ,consider to what lofty heights the injunctions of the ,almighty have soared1 and how abject is the habitation wherein these feeble souls are now abiding4 ,blessed are they who1 on the wings of certitude1 have flown in the heavens which the ,pen of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 hath spread4 ,behold1 ,o ,dhabh1 the works which ,god1 the ,sovereign ,truth1 hath wrought4 ,say thou3 ,how great1 how very great1 is the power of ,his might that encompasseth all worlds6 ,exalted1 immeasurably exalted1 is ,his detachment above the reach and ken of the entire creation6 ,glorified1 glorified be ,his meekness--a meekness that hath melted the hearts of them that have been brought nigh unto ,god6 ,though afflicted with countless tribulations1 which ,we have suffered at the hands of ,our enemies1 ,we have proclaimed unto all the rulers of the earth what ,god hath willed to proclaim1 that all nations may know that no manner of affliction can deter the ,pen of the ,ancient of ,days from achieving its purpose4 ,his ,pen moveth by the leave of ,god1 ,who fashioneth the crumbling and rotten bones4 ,considering this most mighty enterprise1 it beseemeth them that love ,him to gird up the loins of their endeavor1 and to fix their thoughts on whatever will ensure the victory of the cause of ,god1 rather than commit vile and contemptible deeds4 ,wert thou to consider1 for but a little while1 the outward works and doings of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 thou wouldst fall down upon the ground1 and exclaim3 ,o ,thou ,who art the ,lord of ,lords6 ,i testify that ,thou art the ,lord of all creation1 and the ,educator of all beings1 visible and invisible4 ,i bear witness that ,thy power hath encompassed the entire universe1 and that the hosts of the earth can never dismay ,thee1 nor can the dominion of all peoples and nations deter ,thee from executing ,thy purpose4 ,i confess that ,thou hast no desire except the regeneration of the whole world1 and the establishment of the unity of its peoples1 and the salvation of all them that dwell therein4 ,reflect a while1 and consider how they who are the loved ones of ,god must conduct themselves1 and to what heights they must soar4 ,beseech thou1 at all times1 thy ,lord1 the ,god of ,mercy1 to aid them to do what ,he willeth4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,the imprisonment inflicted on this wronged ,one1 ,o ,dhabh1 did to ,him no harm nor can it ever do so2 nor can the loss of all ,his earthly goods1 ,his exile1 or even ,his martyrdom and outward humiliation1 do ,him any hurt4 ,that which can hurt ,him are the evil deeds which the beloved of ,god commit1 and which they impute to ,him ,who is the ,sovereign ,truth4 ,this is the affliction from which ,i suffer1 and to this ,he1 ,himself1 ,who is potent over all things1 beareth ,me witness4 ,that which hath sorely hurt ,me are the claims which the people of the ,bayn are advancing every day4 ,some have proclaimed their allegiance to one of ,my ,branches 7,sons71 while others have asserted independently their claims1 and acted after their own desires4 ,o ,dhabh6 ,the ,tongue of ,grandeur saith3 ,by ,myself that speaketh the truth6 ,in this most mighty ,revelation all the ,dispensations of the past have attained their highest and final consummation4 ,whoso layeth claim to a ,revelation after ,him1 such a man is assuredly a lying impostor4 ,we pray ,god that ,he may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim4 ,should he repent1 ,god will no doubt forgive him4 ,if1 however1 he persisteth in his error1 ,god will assuredly send down one who will deal mercilessly with him4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,almighty1 the ,most ,powerful4 ,behold how the people of the ,bayn have utterly failed to recognize that the sole object of whatsoever ,my ,previous ,manifestation and ,harbinger of ,my ,beauty hath revealed hath been ,my ,revelation and the proclamation of ,my ,cause4 ,never--and to this ,he ,who is the ,sovereign ,truth beareth ,me witness--would ,he have1 but for ,me1 pronounced what ,he did pronounce4 ,witness how this foolish people have treated the ,cause of ,him ,who is the ,all-,possessing1 the ,inaccessible1 as a play and pastime6 ,their hearts devise each day a new device1 and their fancy leadeth them to seek a fresh retreat4 ,if what they say be true1 how then can the stability of the ,cause of thy ,lord be ensured8 ,ponder this in thine heart1 and be thou of them who are sharp-sighted1 who scan heedfully1 who are steadfast in their purpose and confident in their belief4 ,such should be thy certitude that if all mankind were to advance such claims as no man hath ever advanced1 or any mind conceived1 thou wouldst completely ignore them1 wouldst cast them from thee1 and would set thy face towards ,him ,who is the ,object of the adoration of all worlds4 ,by the righteousness of ,mine own ,self6 ,great1 immeasurably great is this ,cause6 ,mighty1 inconceivably mighty is this ,day6 ,blessed indeed is the man that hath forsaken all things1 and fastened his eyes upon ,him ,whose face hath shed illumination upon all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,sharp must be thy sight1 ,o ,dhabh1 and adamant thy soul1 and brass-like thy feet1 if thou wishest to be unshaken by the assaults of the selfish desires that whisper in men's breasts4 ,this is the firm injunction which the ,pen of the ,most ,great ,name hath1 by virtue of the ,will of the ,ancient ,king1 been moved to reveal4 ,keep it as the apple of thine eye1 and be thou of the thankful4 ,strive thou day and night to serve the ,cause of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 and be thou detached from all else but ,him4 ,by ,myself6 ,whatever thou seest in this ,day shall perish4 ,supremely lofty will be thy station1 if thou remainest steadfast in the ,cause of thy ,lord4 ,towards ,him are thy busy movements directed1 and in ,him is thy final resting-place4 ,,cxvi3 ,o ,,kings ,,of ,,christendom6 ,,heard ,,ye ,,not ,,the444 ,o kings of ,christendom6 ,heard ye not the saying of ,jesus1 the ,spirit of ,god1 8,i go away1 and come again unto you08 ,wherefore1 then1 did ye fail1 when ,he did come again unto you in the clouds of heaven1 to draw nigh unto ,him1 that ye might behold ,his face1 and be of them that attained ,his ,presence8 ,in another passage ,he saith3 8,when ,he1 the ,spirit of ,truth1 is come1 ,he will guide you into all truth40 ,and yet1 behold how1 when ,he did bring the truth1 ye refused to turn your faces towards ,him1 and persisted in disporting yourselves with your pastimes and fancies4 ,ye welcomed ,him not1 neither did ye seek ,his ,presence1 that ye might hear the verses of ,god from ,his own mouth1 and partake of the manifold wisdom of the ,almighty1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,wise4 ,ye have1 by reason of your failure1 hindered the breath of ,god from being wafted over you1 and have withheld from your souls the sweetness of its fragrance4 ,ye continue roving with delight in the valley of your corrupt desires4 ,ye1 and all ye possess1 shall pass away4 ,ye shall1 most certainly1 return to ,god1 and shall be called to account for your doings in the presence of ,him ,who shall gather together the entire creation444 ,twenty years have passed1 ,o kings1 during which ,we have1 each day1 tasted the agony of a fresh tribulation4 ,no one of them that were before ,us hath endured the things ,we have endured4 ,would that ye could perceive it6 ,they that rose up against ,us have put us to death1 have shed our blood1 have plundered our property1 and violated our honor4 ,though aware of most of our afflictions1 ye1 nevertheless1 have failed to stay the hand of the aggressor4 ,for is it not your clear duty to restrain the tyranny of the oppressor1 and to deal equitably with your subjects1 that your high sense of justice may be fully demonstrated to all mankind8 ,god hath committed into your hands the reins of the government of the people1 that ye may rule with justice over them1 safeguard the rights of the down-trodden1 and punish the wrong-doers4 ,if ye neglect the duty prescribed unto you by ,god in ,his ,book1 your names shall be numbered with those of the unjust in ,his sight4 ,grievous1 indeed1 will be your error4 ,cleave ye to that which your imaginations have devised1 and cast behind your backs the commandments of ,god1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,all-,compelling1 the ,almighty8 ,cast away the things ye possess1 and cling to that which ,god hath bidden you observe4 ,seek ye ,his grace1 for he that seeketh it treadeth ,his straight ,path4 ,consider the state in which ,we are1 and behold ye the ills and troubles that have tried ,us4 ,neglect ,us not1 though it be for a moment1 and judge ye between ,us and ,our enemies with equity4 ,this will1 surely1 be a manifest advantage unto you4 ,thus do ,we relate to you ,our tale1 and recount the things that have befallen ,us1 that ye might take off ,our ills and ease ,our burden4 ,let him who will1 relieve ,us from ,our trouble2 and as to him that willeth not1 ,my ,lord is assuredly the best of helpers4 ,warn and acquaint the people1 ,o ,servant1 with the things ,we have sent down unto ,thee1 and let the fear of no one dismay ,thee1 and be ,thou not of them that waver4 ,the day is approaching when ,god will have exalted ,his ,cause and magnified ,his testimony in the eyes of all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth4 ,place1 in all circumstances1 ,thy whole trust in ,thy ,lord1 and fix ,thy gaze upon ,him1 and turn away from all them that repudiate ,his truth4 ,let ,god1 ,thy ,lord1 be ,thy sufficing succorer and helper4 ,we have pledged ,ourselves to secure ,thy triumph upon earth and to exalt ,our ,cause above all men1 though no king be found who would turn his face towards ,thee4 ,,cxvii3 ,,the ,,great ,,being1 ,,wishing ,,to ,,reveal ,,the444 ,the ,great ,being1 wishing to reveal the prerequisites of the peace and tranquillity of the world and the advancement of its peoples1 hath written3 ,the time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast1 an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized4 ,the rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it1 and1 participating in its deliberations1 must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world's ,great ,peace amongst men4 ,such a peace demandeth that the ,great ,powers should resolve1 for the sake of the tranquillity of the peoples of the earth1 to be fully reconciled among themselves4 ,should any king take up arms against another1 all should unitedly arise and prevent him4 ,if this be done1 the nations of the world will no longer require any armaments1 except for the purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal order within their territories4 ,this will ensure the peace and composure of every people1 government and nation4 ,we fain would hope that the kings and rulers of the earth1 the mirrors of the gracious and almighty name of ,god1 may attain unto this station1 and shield mankind from the onslaught of tyranny4 444,the day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have adopted one universal language and one common script4 ,when this is achieved1 to whatsoever city a man may journey1 it shall be as if he were entering his own home4 ,these things are obligatory and absolutely essential4 ,it is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action4444 ,that one indeed is a man who1 today1 dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race4 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth4 ,in another passage ,he hath proclaimed3 ,it is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country1 but rather for him who loveth the whole world4 ,the earth is but one country1 and mankind its citizens4 ,,cxviii3 ,,lay ,,not ,,aside ,,the ,,fear ,,of ,,god1 ,o ,,kings ,,of444 ,lay not aside the fear of ,god1 ,o kings of the earth1 and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the ,almighty hath fixed4 ,observe the injunctions laid upon you in ,his ,book1 and take good heed not to overstep their limits4 ,be vigilant1 that ye may not do injustice to anyone1 be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed4 ,tread ye the path of justice1 for this1 verily1 is the straight path4 ,compose your differences1 and reduce your armaments1 that the burden of your expenditures may be lightened1 and that your minds and hearts may be tranquillized4 ,heal the dissensions that divide you1 and ye will no longer be in need of any armaments except what the protection of your cities and territories demandeth4 ,fear ye ,god1 and take heed not to outstrip the bounds of moderation1 and be numbered among the extravagant4 ,we have learned that you are increasing your outlay every year1 and are laying the burden thereof on your subjects4 ,this1 verily1 is more than they can bear1 and is a grievous injustice4 ,decide justly between men1 and be ye the emblems of justice amongst them4 ,this1 if ye judge fairly1 is the thing that behoveth you1 and beseemeth your station4 ,beware not to deal unjustly with any one that appealeth to you1 and entereth beneath your shadow4 ,walk ye in the fear of ,god1 and be ye of them that lead a godly life4 ,rest not on your power1 your armies1 and treasures4 ,put your whole trust and confidence in ,god1 ,who hath created you1 and seek ye ,his help in all your affairs4 ,succor cometh from ,him alone4 ,he succoreth whom ,he will with the hosts of the heavens and of the earth4 ,know ye that the poor are the trust of ,god in your midst4 ,watch that ye betray not ,his trust1 that ye deal not unjustly with them and that ye walk not in the ways of the treacherous4 ,ye will most certainly be called upon to answer for ,his trust on the day when the ,balance of ,justice shall be set1 the day when unto every one shall be rendered his due1 when the doings of all men1 be they rich or poor1 shall be weighed4 ,if ye pay no heed unto the counsels which1 in peerless and unequivocal language1 ,we have revealed in this ,tablet1 ,divine chastisement shall assail you from every direction1 and the sentence of ,his justice shall be pronounced against you4 ,on that day ye shall have no power to resist ,him1 and shall recognize your own impotence4 ,have mercy on yourselves and on those beneath you4 ,judge ye between them according to the precepts prescribed by ,god in ,his most holy and exalted ,tablet1 a ,tablet wherein ,he hath assigned to each and every thing its settled measure1 in which ,he hath given1 with distinctness1 an explanation of all things1 and which is in itself a monition unto them that believe in ,him4 ,examine ,our ,cause1 inquire into the things that have befallen ,us1 and decide justly between ,us and ,our enemies1 and be ye of them that act equitably towards their neighbor4 ,if ye stay not the hand of the oppressor1 if ye fail to safeguard the rights of the down-trodden1 what right have ye then to vaunt yourselves among men8 ,what is it of which ye can rightly boast8 ,is it on your food and your drink that ye pride yourselves1 on the riches ye lay up in your treasuries1 on the diversity and the cost of the ornaments with which ye deck yourselves8 ,if true glory were to consist in the possession of such perishable things1 then the earth on which ye walk must needs vaunt itself over you1 because it supplieth you1 and bestoweth upon you1 these very things1 by the decree of the ,almighty4 ,in its bowels are contained1 according to what ,god hath ordained1 all that ye possess4 ,from it1 as a sign of ,his mercy1 ye derive your riches4 ,behold then your state1 the thing in which ye glory6 ,would that ye could perceive it6 ,nay6 ,by ,him ,who holdeth in ,his grasp the kingdom of the entire creation6 ,nowhere doth your true and abiding glory reside except in your firm adherence unto the precepts of ,god1 your wholehearted observance of ,his laws1 your resolution to see that they do not remain unenforced1 and to pursue steadfastly the right course4 ,,cxix3 ,o ,,ye ,,rulers ,,of ,,the ,,earth6 ,,wherefore ,,have444 ,o ye rulers of the earth6 ,wherefore have ye clouded the radiance of the ,sun1 and caused it to cease from shining8 ,hearken unto the counsel given you by the ,pen of the ,most ,high1 that haply both ye and the poor may attain unto tranquillity and peace4 ,we beseech ,god to assist the kings of the earth to establish peace on earth4 ,he1 verily1 doth what ,he willeth4 ,o kings of the earth6 ,we see you increasing every year your expenditures1 and laying the burden thereof on your subjects4 ,this1 verily1 is wholly and grossly unjust4 ,fear the sighs and tears of this wronged ,one1 and lay not excessive burdens on your peoples4 ,do not rob them to rear palaces for yourselves2 nay rather choose for them that which ye choose for yourselves4 ,thus ,we unfold to your eyes that which profiteth you1 if ye but perceive4 ,your people are your treasures4 ,beware lest your rule violate the commandments of ,god1 and ye deliver your wards to the hands of the robber4 ,by them ye rule1 by their means ye subsist1 by their aid ye conquer4 ,yet1 how disdainfully ye look upon them6 ,how strange1 how very strange6 ,now that ye have refused the ,most ,great ,peace1 hold ye fast unto this1 the ,lesser ,peace1 that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents4 ,o rulers of the earth6 ,be reconciled among yourselves1 that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions4 ,beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the ,all-,knowing1 the ,faithful4 ,be united1 ,o kings of the earth1 for thereby will the tempest of discord be stilled amongst you1 and your peoples find rest1 if ye be of them that comprehend4 ,should any one among you take up arms against another1 rise ye all against him1 for this is naught but manifest justice4 ,,cxx3 ,o ,,ye ,,the ,,elected ,,representatives ,,of ,,the ,,people444 ,o ye the elected representatives of the people in every land6 ,take ye counsel together1 and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind1 and bettereth the condition thereof1 if ye be of them that scan heedfully4 ,regard the world as the human body which1 though at its creation whole and perfect1 hath been afflicted1 through various causes1 with grave disorders and maladies4 ,not for one day did it gain ease1 nay its sickness waxed more severe1 as it fell under the treatment of ignorant physicians1 who gave full rein to their personal desires1 and have erred grievously4 ,and if1 at one time1 through the care of an able physician1 a member of that body was healed1 the rest remained afflicted as before4 ,thus informeth you the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,we behold it1 in this day1 at the mercy of rulers so drunk with pride that they cannot discern clearly their own best advantage1 much less recognize a ,revelation so bewildering and challenging as this4 ,and whenever any one of them hath striven to improve its condition1 his motive hath been his own gain1 whether confessedly so or not2 and the unworthiness of this motive hath limited his power to heal or cure4 ,that which the ,lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal ,cause1 one common ,faith4 ,this can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled1 an all-powerful and inspired ,physician4 ,this1 verily1 is the truth1 and all else naught but error4 ,,cxxi3 ,,say3 ,o ,,ye ,,that ,,envy ,,me ,,and ,,seek ,,my ,,hurt6444 ,say3 ,o ye that envy ,me and seek ,my hurt6 ,the fury of your wrath against ,me confound you6 ,lo1 the ,day ,star of ,glory hath risen above the horizon of ,my ,revelation1 and enveloped with its radiance the whole of mankind4 ,and yet1 behold how ye have shut out yourselves from its splendor and are sunk in utter heedlessness4 ,have mercy upon yourselves1 and repudiate not the claim of ,him ,whose truth ye have already recognized1 and be not of them that transgress4 ,by the righteousness of the one true ,god6 ,if ye reject this ,revelation1 all the nations of the earth will laugh you to scorn and mock you1 for it is you that have produced1 before their eyes1 and for the purpose of vindicating the truth of your ,cause1 the testimonies of ,god1 the ,sovereign ,protector1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,and yet1 no sooner was ,his subsequent ,revelation1 clothed with the glory of an all-compelling sovereignty1 sent down unto you1 than ye cast it behind your backs1 ,o ye that are numbered with the heedless ones6 ,what6 ,believe ye in your hearts that ye possess the power to extinguish the radiance of the ,sun1 or to eclipse its splendor8 ,nay1 by ,my life6 ,ye will never and can never achieve your purpose1 though ye summon to your aid all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,walk ye in the fear of ,god1 and render not your works vain4 ,incline your ears to ,his words1 and be not of them that are shut out as by a veil from ,him4 ,say3 ,god is ,my witness6 ,i have wished nothing whatever for ,myself4 ,what ,i have wished is the victory of ,god and the triumph of ,his ,cause4 ,he is ,himself a sufficient witness between you and ,me4 ,were ye to cleanse your eyes1 ye would readily perceive how ,my deeds testify to the truth of ,my words1 how ,my words are a guide to ,my deeds4 ,blinded are your eyes6 ,perceived ye not the greatness of the power of ,god and of ,his sovereignty8 ,beheld ye not ,his majesty and glory8 ,woe unto you1 ye congregation of the malicious and envious6 ,hearken unto ,my speech1 and tarry not though it be for less than a moment4 ,thus biddeth you ,he ,who is the ,beauty of the ,all-,merciful1 that haply ye may detach yourselves from the things ye possess1 and ascend to the heights from which ye can discover the whole creation sheltered beneath the shadow of ,his ,revelation4 ,say3 ,there is no place of refuge for you1 no asylum to which ye can flee1 no one to defend or to protect you in this ,day from the fury of the wrath of ,god and from ,his vehement power1 unless and until ye seek the shadow of ,his ,revelation4 ,this1 indeed1 is ,his ,revelation which hath been manifested unto you in the person of this ,youth4 ,glorified1 then1 be ,god for so effulgent1 so precious1 so wondrous a vision4 ,detach yourselves from all else but ,me1 and turn your faces towards ,my face1 for better is this for you than the things ye possess4 ,the ,tongue of ,god testifieth to the truth of ,my words1 through ,mine own ,word that speaketh the truth1 and embraceth and comprehendeth all things4 ,say3 ,think ye that your allegiance to ,his ,cause can ever profit ,him1 or your repudiation of its truth cause ,him any loss8 ,no1 by ,my ,self1 the ,all-,subduing1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,most ,high6 ,tear ye asunder the veils of names and cleave ye their kingdom4 ,by ,my ,beauty6 ,he ,who is the ,monarch of all names is come1 ,he at ,whose bidding every single name hath1 from the beginning that hath no beginning1 been created1 ,he ,who shall continue to create them as ,he pleaseth4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,powerful1 the ,all-,wise4 ,beware that ye divest not yourselves of the raiment of ,divine guidance4 ,drink ye your fill from the ,cup which the ,youths of ,heaven have raised above your heads4 ,thus biddeth you ,he ,who hath more mercy upon you than your own selves1 ,he ,who asketh not any recompense or thanks from you4 ,his reward is from ,him ,who hath1 through the power of truth1 sent ,him down unto you1 and singled ,him out and proclaimed ,him as ,his own ,testimony unto the whole of creation4 ,he it is ,who hath empowered ,him to manifest all ,his signs4 ,repeat the gaze1 that ye may perceive the things whereunto the ,tongue of the ,ancient of ,days hath summoned you1 that haply ye may be of them that have apprehended the truth4 ,heard it ye ever reported by your fathers of old1 or by the generations that preceded them1 even unto the first ,adam1 that any one coming in the clouds of revelation1 being invested with manifest and transcendent sovereignty1 having on his right hand the ,kingdom of ,god and on his left all the power and glory of ,his everlasting dominion1 any one preceded by the hosts of ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,compelling1 the ,most ,powerful1 and uttering continually verses whose import the minds of the most learned and wisest of men are powerless to fathom1 should yet be the bearer of a message that is not of ,god8 ,be discerning1 then1 and speak ye the truth1 the very truth1 if ye claim to be honest and high-minded4 ,say3 ,the verses ,we have revealed are as numerous as those which1 in the preceding ,revelation1 were sent down upon the ,bb4 ,let him that doubteth the words which the ,spirit of ,god hath spoken seek the court of ,our presence and hear ,our divinely-revealed verses1 and be an eye-witness of the clear proof of ,our claim4 ,say3 ,by the righteousness of the ,almighty6 ,the measure of the favors of ,god hath been filled up1 ,his ,word hath been perfected1 the light of ,his countenance hath been revealed1 ,his sovereignty hath encompassed the whole of creation1 the glory of ,his ,revelation hath been made manifest1 and ,his bounties have rained upon all mankind4 ,,cxxii3 ,,man ,,is ,,the ,,supreme ,,talisman4 ,,lack ,,of ,a444 ,man is the supreme ,talisman4 ,lack of a proper education hath1 however1 deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess4 ,through a word proceeding out of the mouth of ,god he was called into being2 by one word more he was guided to recognize the ,source of his education2 by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded4 ,the ,great ,being saith3 ,regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value4 ,education can1 alone1 cause it to reveal its treasures1 and enable mankind to benefit therefrom4 ,if any man were to meditate on that which the ,scriptures1 sent down from the heaven of ,god's holy ,will1 have revealed1 he would readily recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be regarded as one soul1 so that the seal bearing the words 8,the ,kingdom shall be ,god's0 may be stamped on every heart1 and the light of ,divine bounty1 of grace1 and mercy may envelop all mankind4 ,the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 hath wished nothing for ,himself4 ,the allegiance of mankind profiteth ,him not1 neither doth its perversity harm ,him4 ,the ,bird of the ,realm of ,utterance voiceth continually this call3 8,all things have ,i willed for thee1 and thee1 too1 for thine own sake40 ,if the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love1 every understanding heart would apprehend the meaning of true liberty1 and discover the secret of undisturbed peace and absolute composure4 ,were the earth to attain this station and be illumined with its light it could then be truly said of it3 8,thou shall see in it no hollows or rising hills40 ,,cxxiii3 ,,the ,,generations ,,that ,,have ,,gone ,,on ,,before444 ,the generations that have gone on before you--whither are they fled8 ,and those round whom in life circled the fairest and the loveliest of the land1 where now are they8 ,profit by their example1 ,o people1 and be not of them that are gone astray4 ,others ere long will lay hands on what ye possess1 and enter into your habitations4 ,incline your ears to ,my words1 and be not numbered among the foolish4 ,for every one of you his paramount duty is to choose for himself that on which no other may infringe and none usurp from him4 ,such a thing--and to this the ,almighty is ,my witness--is the love of ,god1 could ye but perceive it4 ,build ye for yourselves such houses as the rain and floods can never destroy1 which shall protect you from the changes and chances of this life4 ,this is the instruction of ,him ,whom the world hath wronged and forsaken4 ,,cxxiv3 ,,how ,,wondrous ,,is ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,the ,,living1444 ,how wondrous is the unity of the ,living1 the ,ever-,abiding ,god--a unity which is exalted above all limitations1 that transcendeth the comprehension of all created things6 ,he hath1 from everlasting1 dwelt in ,his inaccessible habitation of holiness and glory1 and will unto everlasting continue to be enthroned upon the heights of ,his independent sovereignty and grandeur4 ,how lofty hath been ,his incorruptible ,essence1 how completely independent of the knowledge of all created things1 and how immensely exalted will it remain above the praise of all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth6 ,from the exalted source1 and out of the essence of ,his favor and bounty ,he hath entrusted every created thing with a sign of ,his knowledge1 so that none of ,his creatures may be deprived of its share in expressing1 each according to its capacity and rank1 this knowledge4 ,this sign is the mirror of ,his beauty in the world of creation4 ,the greater the effort exerted for the refinement of this sublime and noble mirror1 the more faithfully will it be made to reflect the glory of the names and attributes of ,god1 and reveal the wonders of ,his signs and knowledge4 ,every created thing will be enabled 7so great is this reflecting power7 to reveal the potentialities of its pre-ordained station1 will recognize its capacity and limitations1 and will testify to the truth that 8,he1 verily1 is ,god2 there is none other ,god besides ,him40444 ,there can be no doubt whatever that1 in consequence of the efforts which every man may consciously exert and as a result of the exertion of his own spiritual faculties1 this mirror can be so cleansed from the dross of earthly defilements and purged from satanic fancies as to be able to draw nigh unto the meads of eternal holiness and attain the courts of everlasting fellowship4 ,in pursuance1 however1 of the principle that for every thing a time hath been fixed1 and for every fruit a season hath been ordained1 the latent energies of such a bounty can best be released1 and the vernal glory of such a gift can only be manifested1 in the ,days of ,god4 ,invested though each day may be with its pre-ordained share of ,god's wondrous grace1 the ,days immediately associated with the ,manifestation of ,god possess a unique distinction and occupy a station which no mind can ever comprehend4 ,such is the virtue infused into them that if the hearts of all that dwell in the heavens and the earth were1 in those days of everlasting delight1 to be brought face to face with that ,day ,star of unfading glory and attuned to ,his ,will1 each would find itself exalted above all earthly things1 radiant with ,his light1 and sanctified through ,his grace4 ,all hail to this grace which no blessing1 however great1 can excel1 and all honor to such a loving-kindness the like of which the eye of creation hath not seen6 ,exalted is ,he above that which they attribute unto ,him or recount about ,him6 ,it is for this reason that1 in those days1 no man shall ever stand in need of his neighbor4 ,it hath already been abundantly demonstrated that in that divinely-appointed ,day the majority of them that have sought and attained ,his holy court have revealed such knowledge and wisdom1 a drop of which none else besides these holy and sanctified souls1 however long he may have taught or studied1 hath grasped or will ever comprehend4 ,it is by virtue of this power that the beloved of ,god have1 in the days of the ,manifestation of the ,day ,star of ,truth1 been exalted above1 and made independent of1 all human learning4 ,nay1 from their hearts and the springs of their innate powers hath gushed out unceasingly the inmost essence of human learning and wisdom4 ,,cxxv3 ,o ,,my ,,brother6 ,,when ,a ,,true ,,seeker ,,determineth444 ,o ,my brother6 ,when a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the ,ancient of ,days1 he must1 before all else1 cleanse his heart1 which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of ,god1 from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge1 and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy4 ,he must purge his breast1 which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the ,beloved1 of every defilement1 and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to water and clay1 from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments4 ,he must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein1 lest that love blindly incline him to error1 or that hate repel him away from the truth4 ,even as thou dost witness in this ,day how most of the people1 because of such love and hate1 are bereft of the immortal ,face1 have strayed far from the ,embodiments of the ,divine mysteries1 and1 shepherdless1 are roaming through the wilderness of oblivion and error4 ,that seeker must1 at all times1 put his trust in ,god1 must renounce the peoples of the earth1 must detach himself from the world of dust1 and cleave unto ,him ,who is the ,lord of ,lords4 ,he must never seek to exalt himself above any one1 must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vain-glory1 must cling unto patience and resignation1 observe silence and refrain from idle talk4 ,for the tongue is a smoldering fire1 and excess of speech a deadly poison4 ,material fire consumeth the body1 whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul4 ,the force of the former lasteth but for a time1 whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century4 ,that seeker should1 also1 regard backbiting as grievous error1 and keep himself aloof from its dominion1 inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart1 and extinguisheth the life of the soul4 ,he should be content with little1 and be freed from all inordinate desire4 ,he should treasure the companionship of them that have renounced the world1 and regard avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit4 ,at the dawn of every day he should commune with ,god1 and1 with all his soul1 persevere in the quest of his ,beloved4 ,he should consume every wayward thought with the flame of ,his loving mention1 and1 with the swiftness of lightning1 pass by all else save ,him4 ,he should succor the dispossessed1 and never withhold his favor from the destitute4 ,he should show kindness to animals1 how much more unto his fellow-man1 to him who is endowed with the power of utterance4 ,he should not hesitate to offer up his life for his ,beloved1 nor allow the censure of the people to turn him away from the ,truth4 ,he should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself1 nor promise that which he doth not fulfil4 ,with all his heart he should avoid fellowship with evil-doers1 and pray for the remission of their sins4 ,he should forgive the sinful1 and never despise his low estate1 for none knoweth what his own end shall be4 ,how often hath a sinner attained1 at the hour of death1 to the essence of faith1 and1 quaffing the immortal draught1 hath taken his flight unto the ,concourse on high6 ,and how often hath a devout believer1 at the hour of his soul's ascension1 been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire6 ,our purpose in revealing these convincing and weighty utterances is to impress upon the seeker that he should regard all else beside ,god as transient1 and count all things save ,him1 ,who is the ,object of all adoration1 as utter nothingness4 ,these are among the attributes of the exalted1 and constitute the hall-mark of the spiritually-minded4 ,they have already been mentioned in connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the path of ,positive ,knowledge4 ,when the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath fulfilled these essential conditions1 then and only then can he be called a true seeker4 ,whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the verse3 8,whoso maketh efforts for ,us10 he shall enjoy the blessings conferred by the words3 8,in ,our ,ways shall ,we assuredly guide him40 ,only when the lamp of search1 of earnest striving1 of longing desire1 of passionate devotion1 of fervid love1 of rapture1 and ecstasy1 is kindled within the seeker's heart1 and the breeze of ,his loving-kindness is wafted upon his soul1 will the darkness of error be dispelled1 the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated1 and the lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being4 ,at that hour will the ,mystic ,herald1 bearing the joyful tidings of the ,spirit1 shine forth from the ,city of ,god resplendent as the morn1 and1 through the trumpet-blast of knowledge1 will awaken the heart1 the soul1 and the spirit from the slumber of heedlessness4 ,then will the manifold favors and outpouring grace of the holy and everlasting ,spirit confer such new life upon the seeker that he will find himself endowed with a new eye1 a new ear1 a new heart1 and a new mind4 ,he will contemplate the manifest signs of the universe1 and will penetrate the hidden mysteries of the soul4 ,gazing with the eye of ,god1 he will perceive within every atom a door that leadeth him to the stations of absolute certitude4 ,he will discover in all things the mysteries of ,divine ,revelation1 and the evidences of an everlasting ,manifestation4 ,i swear by ,god6 ,were he that treadeth the path of guidance and seeketh to scale the heights of righteousness to attain unto this glorious and exalted station1 he would inhale1 at a distance of a thousand leagues1 the fragrance of ,god1 and would perceive the resplendent morn of a ,divine guidance rising above the ,day ,spring of all things4 ,each and every thing1 however small1 would be to him a revelation1 leading him to his ,beloved1 the ,object of his quest4 ,so great shall be the discernment of this seeker that he will discriminate between truth and falsehood1 even as he doth distinguish the sun from shadow4 ,if in the uttermost corners of the ,east the sweet savors of ,god be wafted1 he will assuredly recognize and inhale their fragrance1 even though he be dwelling in the uttermost ends of the ,west4 ,he will1 likewise1 clearly distinguish all the signs of ,god--,his wondrous utterances1 ,his great works1 and mighty deeds--from the doings1 the words and ways of men1 even as the jeweler who knoweth the gem from the stone1 or the man who distinguisheth the spring from autumn1 and heat from cold4 ,when the channel of the human soul is cleansed of all worldly and impeding attachments1 it will unfailingly perceive the breath of the ,beloved across immeasurable distances1 and will1 led by its perfume1 attain and enter the ,city of ,certitude4 ,therein he will discern the wonders of ,his ancient ,wisdom1 and will perceive all the hidden teachings from the rustling leaves of the ,tree that flourisheth in that ,city4 ,with both his inner and outer ear1 he will hear from its dust the hymns of glory and praise ascending unto the ,lord of ,lords1 and with his inner eye will he discover the mysteries of 8return0 and 8revival40 ,how unspeakably glorious are the signs1 the tokens1 the revelations1 and splendors which ,he1 ,who is the ,king of ,names and ,attributes1 hath destined for that ,city6 ,the attainment unto this ,city quencheth thirst without water1 and kindleth the love of ,god without fire4 ,within every blade of grass are enshrined the mysteries of an inscrutable ,wisdom1 and upon every rose-bush a myriad nightingales pour out1 in blissful rapture1 their melody4 ,its wondrous tulips unfold the mystery of the undying ,fire in the ,burning ,bush1 and its sweet savors of holiness breathe the perfume of the ,messianic ,spirit4 ,it bestoweth wealth without gold1 and conferreth immortality without death4 ,in each one of its leaves ineffable delights are treasured1 and within every chamber unnumbered mysteries lie hidden4 ,they that valiantly labor in quest of ,god1 will1 when once they have renounced all else but ,him1 be so attached and wedded unto that ,city1 that a moment's separation from it would to them be unthinkable4 ,they will hearken unto infallible proofs from the ,hyacinth of that assembly1 and will receive the surest testimonies from the beauty of its ,rose1 and the melody of its ,nightingale4 ,once in about a thousand years shall this ,city be renewed and readorned4444 ,that ,city is none other than the ,word of ,god revealed in every age and dispensation4 ,in the days of ,moses it was the ,pentateuch2 in the days of ,jesus1 the ,gospel2 in the days of ,muammad1 the ,messenger of ,god1 the ,qur'n2 in this day1 the ,bayn2 and in the ,dispensation of ,him ,whom ,god will make manifest1 ,his own ,book--the ,book unto which all the ,books of former ,dispensations must needs be referred1 the ,book that standeth amongst them all transcendent and supreme4 ,,cxxvi3 ,,to ,,whatever ,,place ,,we ,,may ,,be ,,banished1444 ,to whatever place ,we may be banished1 however great the tribulation ,we may suffer1 they who are the people of ,god must1 with fixed resolve and perfect confidence1 keep their eyes directed towards the ,day ,spring of ,glory1 and be busied in whatever may be conducive to the betterment of the world and the education of its peoples4 ,all that hath befallen ,us in the past hath advanced the interests of ,our ,revelation and blazoned its fame2 and all that may befall ,us in the future will have a like result4 ,cling ye1 with your inmost hearts1 to the ,cause of ,god1 a ,cause that hath been sent down by ,him ,who is the ,ordainer1 the ,all-,wise4 ,we have1 with the utmost kindliness and mercy1 summoned and directed all peoples and nations to that which shall truly profit them4 ,the ,day ,star of ,truth that shineth in its meridian splendor beareth ,us witness6 ,they who are the people of ,god have no ambition except to revive the world1 to ennoble its life1 and regenerate its peoples4 ,truthfulness and good-will have1 at all times1 marked their relations with all men4 ,their outward conduct is but a reflection of their inward life1 and their inward life a mirror of their outward conduct4 ,no veil hideth or obscureth the verities on which their ,faith is established4 ,before the eyes of all men these verities have been laid bare1 and can be unmistakably recognized4 ,their very acts attest the truth of these words4 ,every discerning eye can1 in this ,day1 perceive the dawning light of ,god's ,revelation1 and every attentive ear can recognize the ,voice that was heard from the ,burning ,bush4 ,such is the rushing of the waters of ,divine mercy1 that ,he ,who is the ,day ,spring of the signs of ,god and the ,revealer of the evidences of ,his glory is without veil or concealment associating and conversing with the peoples of the earth and its kindreds4 ,how numerous are those who1 with hearts intent upon malice1 have sought ,our ,presence1 and departed from it loyal and loving friends6 ,the portals of grace are wide open before the face of all men4 ,in ,our outward dealings with them ,we have treated alike the righteous and the sinner1 that perchance the evil-doer may attain the limitless ocean of ,divine forgiveness4 ,our name 8the ,concealer0 hath shed such a light upon men that the froward hath imagined himself to be numbered with the pious4 ,no man that seeketh ,us will ,we ever disappoint1 neither shall he that hath set his face towards ,us be denied access unto ,our court4444 ,o friends6 ,help ye the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 by your goodly deeds1 by such conduct and character as shall be acceptable in ,his sight4 ,he that seeketh to be a helper of ,god in this ,day1 let him close his eyes to whatever he may possess1 and open them to the things of ,god4 ,let him cease to occupy himself with that which profiteth him1 and concern himself with that which shall exalt the all-compelling name of the ,almighty4 ,he should cleanse his heart from all evil passions and corrupt desires1 for the fear of ,god is the weapon that can render him victorious1 the primary instrument whereby he can achieve his purpose4 ,the fear of ,god is the shield that defendeth ,his ,cause1 the buckler that enableth ,his people to attain to victory4 ,it is a standard that no man can abase1 a force that no power can rival4 ,by its aid1 and by the leave of ,him ,who is the ,lord of ,hosts1 they that have drawn nigh unto ,god have been able to subdue and conquer the citadels of the hearts of men4 ,,cxxvii3 ,,if ,,it ,,be ,,your ,,wish1 ,o ,,people1 ,,to ,,know444 ,if it be your wish1 ,o people1 to know ,god and to discover the greatness of ,his might1 look1 then1 upon ,me with ,mine own eyes1 and not with the eyes of any one besides ,me4 ,ye will1 otherwise1 be never capable of recognizing ,me1 though ye ponder ,my ,cause as long as ,my ,kingdom endureth1 and meditate upon all created things throughout the eternity of ,god1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,omnipotent1 the ,ever-,abiding1 the ,all-,wise4 ,thus have ,we manifested the truth of ,our ,revelation1 that haply the people may be roused from their heedlessness1 and be of them that understand4 ,behold the low estate of these men who know full well how ,i have offered up ,mine own ,self and ,my kindred in the path of ,god and for the preservation of their faith in ,him1 who are well aware how ,mine enemies have compassed ,me about1 in the days when the hearts of men feared and trembled1 the days when they hid themselves from the eyes of the loved ones of ,god and of ,his enemies1 and were busied in ensuring their own security and peace4 ,we eventually succeeded in manifesting the ,cause of ,god1 and exalted it to so eminent a position that all the people1 except those who cherished ill-will in their hearts against this ,youth and joined partners with the ,almighty1 acknowledged the sovereignty of ,god and ,his mighty dominion4 ,and yet1 notwithstanding this ,revelation whose influence hath pervaded all created things1 and despite the brightness of this ,light1 the like of which none of them hath ever beheld1 witness how the people of the ,bayn have denied and contended with ,me4 ,some have turned away from the ,path of ,god1 rejected the authority of ,him in ,whom they had believed1 and acted insolently towards ,god1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,supreme ,protector1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,others hesitated and halted in ,his ,path1 and regarded the ,cause of the ,creator1 in its inmost truth1 as invalid unless substantiated by the approval of him who was created through the operation of ,my ,will4 ,thus have their works come to naught1 and yet they failed to perceive it4 ,among them is he who sought to measure ,god with the measure of his own self1 and was so misled by the names of ,god as to rise up against ,me1 who condemned ,me as one that deserved to be put to death1 and who imputed to ,me the very offenses of which he himself was guilty4 ,wherefore1 do ,i plead ,my grief and ,my sorrow to ,him ,who created ,me and entrusted ,me with ,his ,message4 ,unto ,him do ,i render thanks and praise for the things ,he hath ordained1 for ,my loneliness1 and the anguish ,i suffer at the hands of these men who have strayed so far from ,him4 ,i have patiently sustained1 and will continue to sustain1 the tribulation that touched ,me1 and will put ,my whole trust and confidence in ,god4 ,him will ,i supplicate saying3 ,guide ,thy servants1 ,o ,my ,lord1 unto the court of ,thy favor and bounty1 and suffer them not to be deprived of the wonders of ,thy grace and of ,thy manifold blessings4 ,for they know not what ,thou hast ordained for them by virtue of ,thy mercy that encompasseth the whole of creation4 ,outwardly1 ,o ,lord1 they are weak and helpless2 inwardly they are but orphans4 ,thou art the ,all-,bountiful1 the ,munificent1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,cast not1 ,o ,my ,god1 the fury of ,thy wrath upon them1 and cause them to tarry until such time when the wonders of ,thy mercy will have been made manifest1 that haply they may return unto ,thee1 and ask forgiveness of ,thee for the things they have committed against ,thee4 ,verily1 ,thou art the ,forgiving1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,,cxxviii3 ,,say3 ,,doth ,,it ,,beseem ,a ,,man ,,while ,,claiming444 ,say3 ,doth it beseem a man while claiming to be a follower of his ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 he should yet in his heart do the very deeds of the ,evil ,one8 ,nay1 it ill beseemeth him1 and to this ,he ,who is the ,beauty of the ,all-,glorious will bear ,me witness4 ,would that ye could comprehend it6 ,cleanse from your hearts the love of worldly things1 from your tongues every remembrance except ,his remembrance1 from your entire being whatsoever may deter you from beholding ,his face1 or may tempt you to follow the promptings of your evil and corrupt inclinations4 ,let ,god be your fear1 ,o people1 and be ye of them that tread the path of righteousness4 ,say3 ,should your conduct1 ,o people1 contradict your professions1 how think ye1 then1 to be able to distinguish yourselves from them who1 though professing their faith in the ,lord their ,god1 have1 as soon as ,he came unto them in the cloud of holiness1 refused to acknowledge ,him1 and repudiated ,his truth8 ,disencumber yourselves of all attachment to this world and the vanities thereof4 ,beware that ye approach them not1 inasmuch as they prompt you to walk after your own lusts and covetous desires1 and hinder you from entering the straight and glorious ,path4 ,know ye that by 8the world0 is meant your unawareness of ,him ,who is your ,maker1 and your absorption in aught else but ,him4 ,the 8life to come10 on the other hand1 signifieth the things that give you a safe approach to ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,incomparable4 ,whatsoever deterreth you1 in this ,day1 from loving ,god is nothing but the world4 ,flee it1 that ye may be numbered with the blest4 ,should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth1 to wear its apparels1 or partake of the benefits it can bestow1 no harm can befall him1 if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and ,god1 for ,god hath ordained every good thing1 whether created in the heavens or in the earth1 for such of ,his servants as truly believe in ,him4 ,eat ye1 ,o people1 of the good things which ,god hath allowed you1 and deprive not yourselves from ,his wondrous bounties4 ,render thanks and praise unto ,him1 and be of them that are truly thankful4 ,o thou that hast fled thy home and sought the presence of ,god6 ,proclaim unto men the ,message of thy ,lord1 that it may haply deter them from following the promptings of their evil and corrupt desires1 and bring them to the remembrance of ,god1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,say3 ,fear ,god1 ,o people1 and refrain from shedding the blood of any one4 ,contend not with your neighbor1 and be ye of them that do good4 ,beware that ye commit no disorders on the earth after it hath been well ordered1 and follow not the footsteps of them that are gone astray4 ,whoso ariseth among you to teach the ,cause of his ,lord1 let him1 before all else1 teach his own self1 that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him4 ,unless he teacheth his own self1 the words of his mouth will not influence the heart of the seeker4 ,take heed1 ,o people1 lest ye be of them that give good counsel to others but forget to follow it themselves4 ,the words of such as these1 and beyond the words the realities of all things1 and beyond these realities the angels that are nigh unto ,god1 bring against them the accusation of falsehood4 ,should such a man ever succeed in influencing any one1 this success should be attributed not to him1 but rather to the influence of the words of ,god1 as decreed by ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise4 ,in the sight of ,god he is regarded as a lamp that imparteth its light1 and yet is all the while being consumed within itself4 ,say3 ,commit not1 ,o people1 that which will bring shame upon you or dishonor the ,cause of ,god in the eyes of men1 and be not of the mischief-makers4 ,approach not the things which your minds condemn4 ,eschew all manner of wickedness1 for such things are forbidden unto you in the ,book which none touch except such as ,god hath cleansed from every taint of guilt1 and numbered among the purified4 ,be fair to yourselves and to others1 that the evidences of justice may be revealed1 through your deeds1 among ,our faithful servants4 ,beware lest ye encroach upon the substance of your neighbor4 ,prove yourselves worthy of his trust and confidence in you1 and withhold not from the poor the gifts which the grace of ,god hath bestowed upon you4 ,he1 verily1 shall recompense the charitable1 and doubly repay them for what they have bestowed4 ,no ,god is there but ,him4 ,all creation and its empire are ,his4 ,he bestoweth ,his gifts on whom ,he will1 and from whom ,he will ,he withholdeth them4 ,he is the ,great ,giver1 the ,most ,generous1 the ,benevolent4 ,say3 ,teach ye the ,cause of ,god1 ,o people of ,bah1 for ,god hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming ,his ,message1 and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds4 ,such a deed is acceptable only when he that teacheth the ,cause is already a firm believer in ,god1 the ,supreme ,protector1 the ,gracious1 the ,almighty4 ,he hath1 moreover1 ordained that ,his ,cause be taught through the power of men's utterance1 and not through resort to violence4 ,thus hath ,his ordinance been sent down from the ,kingdom of ,him ,who is the ,most ,exalted1 the ,all-,wise4 ,beware lest ye contend with any one1 nay1 strive to make him aware of the truth with kindly manner and most convincing exhortation4 ,if your hearer respond1 he will have responded to his own behoof1 and if not1 turn ye away from him1 and set your faces towards ,god's sacred ,court1 the seat of resplendent holiness4 ,dispute not with any one concerning the things of this world and its affairs1 for ,god hath abandoned them to such as have set their affection upon them4 ,out of the whole world ,he hath chosen for ,himself the hearts of men--hearts which the hosts of revelation and of utterance can subdue4 ,thus hath it been ordained by the ,fingers of ,bah1 upon the ,tablet of ,god's irrevocable decree1 by the behest of ,him ,who is the ,supreme ,ordainer1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,,cxxix3 ,o ,,wayfarer ,,in ,,the ,,path ,,of ,,god6 ,,take444 ,o wayfarer in the path of ,god6 ,take thou thy portion of the ocean of ,his grace1 and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths4 ,be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures4 ,a dewdrop out of this ocean would1 if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth1 suffice to enrich them with the bounty of ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,with the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters1 and sprinkle therewith all created things1 that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of ,god1 this hallowed and resplendent ,spot4 ,be not grieved if thou performest it thyself alone4 ,let ,god be all-sufficient for thee4 ,commune intimately with ,his ,spirit1 and be thou of the thankful4 ,proclaim the ,cause of thy ,lord unto all who are in the heavens and on the earth4 ,should any man respond to thy call1 lay bare before him the pearls of the wisdom of the ,lord1 thy ,god1 which ,his ,spirit hath sent down unto thee1 and be thou of them that truly believe4 ,and should any one reject thine offer1 turn thou away from him1 and put thy trust and confidence in the ,lord1 thy ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,whoso openeth his lips in this ,day and maketh mention of the name of his ,lord1 the hosts of ,divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of ,my name1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,on him shall also descend the ,concourse on high1 each bearing aloft a chalice of pure light4 ,thus hath it been foreordained in the realm of ,god's ,revelation1 by the behest of ,him ,who is the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,powerful4 ,there lay concealed within the ,holy ,veil1 and prepared for the service of ,god1 a company of ,his chosen ones who shall be manifested unto men1 who shall aid ,his ,cause1 who shall be afraid of no one1 though the entire human race rise up and war against them4 ,these are the ones who1 before the gaze of the dwellers on earth and the denizens of heaven1 shall arise and1 shouting aloud1 acclaim the name of the ,almighty1 and summon the children of men to the path of ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,walk thou in their way1 and let no one dismay thee4 ,be of them whom the tumult of the world1 however much it may agitate them in the path of their ,creator1 can never sadden1 whose purpose the blame of the blamer will never defeat4 ,go forth with the ,tablet of ,god and ,his signs1 and rejoin them that have believed in ,me1 and announce unto them tidings of ,our most holy ,paradise4 ,warn1 then1 those that have joined partners with ,him4 ,say3 ,i am come to you1 ,o people1 from the ,throne of glory1 and bear you an announcement from ,god1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,most ,great4 ,in mine hand ,i carry the testimony of ,god1 your ,lord and the ,lord of your sires of old4 ,weigh it with the just ,balance that ye possess1 the ,balance of the testimony of the ,prophets and ,messengers of ,god4 ,if ye find it to be established in truth1 if ye believe it to be of ,god1 beware1 then1 lest ye cavil at it1 and render your works vain1 and be numbered with the infidels4 ,it is indeed the sign of ,god that hath been sent down through the power of truth1 through which the validity of ,his ,cause hath been demonstrated unto ,his creatures1 and the ensigns of purity lifted up betwixt earth and heaven4 ,say3 ,this is the sealed and mystic ,scroll1 the repository of ,god's irrevocable ,decree1 bearing the words which the ,finger of ,holiness hath traced1 that lay wrapt within the veil of impenetrable mystery1 and hath now been sent down as a token of the grace of ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,in it have ,we decreed the destinies of all the dwellers of the earth and the denizens of heaven1 and written down the knowledge of all things from first to last4 ,nothing whatsoever can escape or frustrate ,him1 whether created in the past or to be created in the future1 could ye but perceive it4 ,say3 ,the ,revelation sent down by ,god hath most surely been repeated1 and the outstretched ,hand of ,our power hath overshadowed all that are in the heavens and all that are on the earth4 ,we have1 through the power of truth1 the very truth1 manifested an infinitesimal glimmer of ,our impenetrable ,mystery1 and lo1 they that have recognized the radiance of the ,sinaic splendor expired1 as they caught a lightening glimpse of this ,crimson ,light enveloping the ,sinai of ,our ,revelation4 ,thus hath ,he ,who is the ,beauty of the ,all-,merciful come down in the clouds of ,his testimony1 and the decree accomplished by virtue of the ,will of ,god1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,wise4 ,say3 ,step out of ,thy holy chamber1 ,o ,maid of ,heaven1 inmate of the ,exalted ,paradise6 ,drape thyself in whatever manner pleaseth ,thee in the silken ,vesture of ,immortality1 and put on1 in the name of the ,all-,glorious1 the broidered ,robe of ,light4 ,hear1 then1 the sweet1 the wondrous accent of the ,voice that cometh from the ,throne of ,thy ,lord1 the ,inaccessible1 the ,most ,high4 ,unveil ,thy face1 and manifest the beauty of the black-eyed ,damsel1 and suffer not the servants of ,god to be deprived of the light of ,thy shining countenance4 ,grieve not if ,thou hearest the sighs of the dwellers of the earth1 or the voice of the lamentation of the denizens of heaven4 ,leave them to perish on the dust of extinction4 ,let them be reduced to nothingness1 inasmuch as the flame of hatred hath been kindled within their breasts4 ,intone1 then1 before the face of the peoples of earth and heaven1 and in a most melodious voice1 the anthem of praise1 for a remembrance of ,him ,who is the ,king of the names and attributes of ,god4 ,thus have ,we decreed ,thy destiny4 ,well able are ,we to achieve ,our purpose4 ,beware that ,thou divest not ,thyself1 ,thou ,who art the ,essence of ,purity1 of ,thy robe of effulgent glory4 ,nay1 enrich ,thyself increasingly1 in the kingdom of creation1 with the incorruptible vestures of ,thy ,god1 that the beauteous image of the ,almighty may be reflected through ,thee in all created things and the grace of ,thy ,lord be infused in the plenitude of its power into the entire creation4 ,if ,thou smellest from any one the smell of the love of ,thy ,lord1 offer up ,thyself for him1 for ,we have created ,thee to this end1 and have covenanted with ,thee1 from time immemorial1 and in the presence of the congregation of ,our well-favored ones1 for this very purpose4 ,be not impatient if the blind in heart hurl down the shafts of their idle fancies upon ,thee4 ,leave them to themselves1 for they follow the promptings of the evil ones4 ,cry out before the gaze of the dwellers of heaven and of earth3 ,i am the ,maid of ,heaven1 the ,offspring begotten by the ,spirit of ,bah4 ,my habitation is the ,mansion of ,his ,name1 the ,all-,glorious4 ,before the ,concourse on high ,i was adorned with the ornament of ,his names4 ,i was wrapt within the veil of an inviolable security1 and lay hidden from the eyes of men4 ,methinks that ,i heard a ,voice of divine and incomparable sweetness1 proceeding from the right hand of the ,god of ,mercy1 and lo1 the whole ,paradise stirred and trembled before ,me1 in its longing to hear its accents1 and gaze on the beauty of ,him that uttered them4 ,thus have ,we revealed in this luminous ,tablet1 and in the sweetest of languages1 the verses which the ,tongue of ,eternity was moved to utter in the ,qayymu'l-,asm4 ,say3 ,he ordaineth as ,he pleaseth1 by virtue of ,his sovereignty1 and doeth whatsoever ,he willeth at ,his own behest4 ,he shall not be asked of the things it pleaseth ,him to ordain4 ,he1 in truth1 is the ,unrestrained1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,all-,wise4 ,they that have disbelieved in ,god and rebelled against ,his sovereignty are the helpless victims of their corrupt inclinations and desires4 ,these shall return to their abode in the fire of hell3 wretched is the abode of the deniers6 ,,cxxx3 ,,be ,,generous ,,in ,,prosperity1 ,,and ,,thankful ,,in444 ,be generous in prosperity1 and thankful in adversity4 ,be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor1 and look upon him with a bright and friendly face4 ,be a treasure to the poor1 an admonisher to the rich1 an answerer of the cry of the needy1 a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge4 ,be fair in thy judgment1 and guarded in thy speech4 ,be unjust to no man1 and show all meekness to all men4 ,be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness1 a joy to the sorrowful1 a sea for the thirsty1 a haven for the distressed1 an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression4 ,let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts4 ,be a home for the stranger1 a balm to the suffering1 a tower of strength for the fugitive4 ,be eyes to the blind1 and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring4 ,be an ornament to the countenance of truth1 a crown to the brow of fidelity1 a pillar of the temple of righteousness1 a breath of life to the body of mankind1 an ensign of the hosts of justice1 a luminary above the horizon of virtue1 a dew to the soil of the human heart1 an ark on the ocean of knowledge1 a sun in the heaven of bounty1 a gem on the diadem of wisdom1 a shining light in the firmament of thy generation1 a fruit upon the tree of humility4 ,,cxxxi3 ,,the ,,pen ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,king ,,hath ,,never444 ,the ,pen of the ,ancient ,king hath never ceased to remember the loved ones of ,god4 ,at one time1 rivers of mercy have streamed from ,his ,pen1 at another1 through its movement1 ,god's perspicuous ,book hath been revealed4 ,he is the ,one to ,whom none can compare1 ,whose utterance mortal man can never rival4 ,he it is ,who from everlasting hath been established upon the seat of ascendancy and might1 ,he from ,whose lips have gone out counsels that can satisfy the needs of the whole of mankind1 and admonitions that can profit them4 ,the ,one true ,god beareth ,me witness1 and ,his creatures will testify1 that not for a moment did ,i allow ,myself to be hidden from the eyes of men1 nor did ,i consent to shield ,my person from their injury4 ,before the face of all men ,i have arisen1 and bidden them fulfil ,my pleasure4 ,my object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples4 ,the well-being of mankind1 its peace and security1 are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established4 ,this unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded4 ,through the power of the words ,he hath uttered the whole of the human race can be illumined with the light of unity1 and the remembrance of ,his ,name is able to set on fire the hearts of all men1 and burn away the veils that intervene between them and ,his glory4 ,one righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens4 ,it can tear every bond asunder1 and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and vanished4444 ,be pure1 ,o people of ,god1 be pure2 be righteous1 be righteous4444 ,say3 ,o people of ,god6 ,that which can ensure the victory of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 ,his hosts and helpers on earth1 have been set down in the sacred ,books and ,scriptures1 and are as clear and manifest as the sun4 ,these hosts are such righteous deeds1 such conduct and character1 as are acceptable in ,his sight4 ,whoso ariseth1 in this ,day1 to aid ,our ,cause1 and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a praiseworthy character and upright conduct1 the influence flowing from such an action will1 most certainly1 be diffused throughout the whole world4 ,,cxxxii3 ,,the ,,purpose ,,of ,,the ,,one ,,true ,,god1 ,,exalted444 ,the ,purpose of the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 in revealing ,himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves4 ,that the divers communions of the earth1 and the manifold systems of religious belief1 should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men1 is1 in this ,day1 of the essence of the ,faith of ,god and ,his ,religion4 ,these principles and laws1 these firmly-established and mighty systems1 have proceeded from one ,source1 and are the rays of one ,light4 ,that they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated4 ,gird up the loins of your endeavor1 ,o people of ,bah1 that haply the tumult of religious dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth may be stilled1 that every trace of it may be completely obliterated4 ,for the love of ,god1 and them that serve ,him1 arise to aid this most sublime and momentous ,revelation4 ,religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire1 whose violence none can quench4 ,the ,hand of ,divine power can1 alone1 deliver mankind from this desolating affliction4444 ,the utterance of ,god is a lamp1 whose light is these words3 ,ye are the fruits of one tree1 and the leaves of one branch4 ,deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony1 with friendliness and fellowship4 ,he ,who is the ,day ,star of ,truth beareth ,me witness6 ,so powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth4 ,the one true ,god1 ,he ,who knoweth all things1 ,himself testifieth to the truth of these words4 ,exert yourselves that ye may attain this transcendent and most sublime station1 the station that can ensure the protection and security of all mankind4 ,this goal excelleth every other goal1 and this aspiration is the monarch of all aspirations4 ,so long1 however1 as the thick clouds of oppression1 which obscure the day star of justice1 remain undispelled1 it would be difficult for the glory of this station to be unveiled to men's eyes4444 ,consort with all men1 ,o people of ,bah1 in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship4 ,if ye be aware of a certain truth1 if ye possess a jewel1 of which others are deprived1 share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and good-will4 ,if it be accepted1 if it fulfil its purpose1 your object is attained4 ,if any one should refuse it1 leave him unto himself1 and beseech ,god to guide him4 ,beware lest ye deal unkindly with him4 ,a kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men4 ,it is the bread of the spirit1 it clotheth the words with meaning1 it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding4444 ,,cxxxiii3 ,,the ,,ordinances ,,of ,,god ,,have ,,been ,,sent444 ,the ordinances of ,god have been sent down from the heaven of ,his most august ,revelation4 ,all must diligently observe them4 ,man's supreme distinction1 his real advancement1 his final victory1 have always depended1 and will continue to depend1 upon them4 ,whoso keepeth the commandments of ,god shall attain everlasting felicity4 ,a twofold obligation resteth upon him who hath recognized the ,day ,spring of the ,unity of ,god1 and acknowledged the truth of ,him ,who is the ,manifestation of ,his oneness4 ,the first is steadfastness in ,his love1 such steadfastness that neither the clamor of the enemy nor the claims of the idle pretender can deter him from cleaving unto ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 a steadfastness that taketh no account of them whatever4 ,the second is strict observance of the laws ,he hath prescribed--laws which ,he hath always ordained1 and will continue to ordain1 unto men1 and through which the truth may be distinguished and separated from falsehood4 ,,cxxxiv3 ,,the ,,first ,,and ,,foremost ,,duty ,,prescribed444 ,the first and foremost duty prescribed unto men1 next to the recognition of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth1 is the duty of steadfastness in ,his ,cause4 ,cleave thou unto it1 and be of them whose minds are firmly fixed and grounded in ,god4 ,no act1 however meritorious1 did or can ever compare unto it4 ,it is the king of all acts1 and to this thy ,lord1 the ,all-,highest1 the ,most ,powerful1 will testify4444 ,the virtues and attributes pertaining unto ,god are all evident and manifest1 and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly ,books4 ,among them are trustworthiness1 truthfulness1 purity of heart while communing with ,god1 forbearance1 resignation to whatever the ,almighty hath decreed1 contentment with the things ,his ,will hath provided1 patience1 nay1 thankfulness in the midst of tribulation1 and complete reliance1 in all circumstances1 upon ,him4 ,these rank1 according to the estimate of ,god1 among the highest and most laudable of all acts4 ,all other acts are1 and will ever remain1 secondary and subordinate unto them4444 ,the spirit that animateth the human heart is the knowledge of ,god1 and its truest adorning is the recognition of the truth that 8,he doeth whatsoever ,he willeth1 and ordaineth that which ,he pleaseth40 ,its raiment is the fear of ,god1 and its perfection steadfastness in ,his ,faith4 ,thus ,god instructeth whosoever seeketh ,him4 ,he1 verily1 loveth the one that turneth towards ,him4 ,there is none other ,god but ,him1 the ,forgiving1 the ,most ,bountiful4 ,all praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,cxxxv3 ,o ,,letter ,,of ,,the ,,living6 ,,the ,,ear ,,of ,,god444 ,o ,letter of the ,living6 ,the ear of ,god hath heard thy cry1 and ,his eyes have beheld thy written supplication4 ,he is calling thee from ,his seat of glory1 and is revealing unto thee the verses that have been sent down by ,him ,who is the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,blessed art thou for having utterly abolished the idol of self and of vain imagination1 and for having rent asunder the veil of idle fancy1 through the power of the might of thy ,lord1 the ,supreme ,protector1 the ,almighty1 the one ,beloved4 ,thou art indeed to be numbered with those ,letters that have excelled every other ,letter4 ,wherefore thou hast been singled out by ,god through the tongue of thy ,lord1 the ,bb1 the brightness of ,whose countenance hath enveloped1 and will continue to envelop1 the whole of creation4 ,render thanks unto the ,almighty1 and magnify ,his name1 inasmuch as ,he hath aided thee to recognize a ,cause that hath made the hearts of the inhabitants of the heavens and of the earth to tremble1 that hath caused the denizens of the ,kingdoms of creation and of ,revelation to cry out1 and through which the hidden secrets of men's breasts have been searched out and tested4 ,thy ,lord1 the ,most ,high 7the ,bb71 addresseth thee1 from ,his ,realm of glory1 these words3 ,great is the blessedness that awaiteth thee1 ,o ,letter of the ,living1 for thou hast truly believed in ,me1 hast refused to shame ,me before the ,concourse on high1 hast fulfilled thy pledge1 hast cast away the veil of vain imaginings1 and hast fixed thy gaze upon the ,lord1 thy ,god1 the ,lord of the unseen and the seen1 the ,lord of the ,frequented ,fane4 ,i am well pleased with thee1 inasmuch as ,i have found thy face beaming with light on the ,day when faces have been made dismal and turned black4 ,say3 ,o people of the ,bayn6 ,did ,we not admonish you1 in all ,our ,tablets and in all ,our hidden ,scriptures1 not to follow your evil passions and corrupt inclinations1 but to keep your eyes directed towards the ,scene of transcendent glory1 on the ,day when the ,most ,mighty ,balance shall be set1 the ,day when the sweet melodies of the ,spirit of ,god shall be poured out from the right hand of the throne of your ,lord1 the omnipotent ,protector1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,holy of ,holies8 ,did ,we not forbid you to cleave to the things that would shut you out from the ,manifestation of our ,beauty1 in its subsequent ,revelation1 be they the embodiments of the names of ,god and all their glory1 or the revealers of ,his attributes and their dominion8 ,behold1 how1 as soon as ,i revealed ,myself1 ye have rejected ,my truth and turned away from ,me1 and been of them that have regarded the signs of ,god as a play and pastime6 ,by ,my ,beauty6 ,nothing whatsoever shall1 in this ,day1 be accepted from you1 though ye continue to worship and prostrate yourselves before ,god throughout the eternity of ,his dominion4 ,for all things are dependent upon ,his ,will1 and the worth of all acts is conditioned upon ,his acceptance and pleasure4 ,the whole universe is but a handful of clay in ,his grasp4 ,unless one recognize ,god and love ,him1 his cry shall not be heard by ,god in this ,day4 ,this is of the essence of ,his ,faith1 did ye but know it4 ,will ye be content with that which is like the vapor in a plain1 and be willing to forgo the ,ocean ,whose waters refresh1 by virtue of the ,will of ,god1 the souls of men8 ,woe unto you1 for having repaid the bounty of ,god with so vain and contemptible a thing6 ,ye are1 indeed1 of them that have rejected ,me in ,my previous ,revelation4 ,would that your hearts could comprehend6 ,arise1 and1 under the eyes of ,god1 atone for your failures in duty towards ,him4 ,this is ,my commandment unto you1 were ye to incline your ears unto ,my commandment4 ,by ,mine own ,self6 ,neither the people of the ,qur'n1 nor the followers of either the ,torah or the ,evangel1 nor those of any other ,book1 have committed that which your hands have wrought4 ,i1 ,myself1 have dedicated ,my whole life to the vindication of the truth of this ,faith4 ,i1 ,myself1 have announced1 in all ,my ,tablets1 the advent of ,his ,revelation4 ,and yet1 no sooner did ,he manifest ,himself1 in ,his subsequent ,revelation1 clothed in the glory of ,bah and arrayed in the robe of ,his grandeur1 than ye rebelled against ,him ,who is the supreme ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,beware1 ,o people6 ,be ye ashamed of that which hath befallen ,me at your hands in the path of ,god4 ,take heed that ye be not of them that have rejected that which hath been sent down unto them from the ,heaven of ,god's transcendent glory4 ,such1 ,o ,letter of the ,living1 are the words which thy ,lord hath spoken1 and addressed unto thee from the realms above4 ,proclaim the words of thy ,lord unto ,his servants1 that perchance they may shake off their slumber1 and ask pardon of ,god1 ,who hath formed and fashioned them1 and sent down unto them this most effulgent1 this most holy1 and manifest ,revelation of ,his ,beauty4 ,,cxxxvi3 ,,say3 ,,deliver ,,your ,,souls1 ,o ,,people1 ,,from444 ,say3 ,deliver your souls1 ,o people1 from the bondage of self1 and purify them from all attachment to anything besides ,me4 ,remembrance of ,me cleanseth all things from defilement1 could ye but perceive it4 ,say3 ,were all created things to be entirely divested of the veil of worldly vanity and desire1 the ,hand of ,god would in this ,day clothe them1 one and all1 with the robe 8,he doeth whatsoever ,he willeth in the kingdom of creation10 that thereby the sign of ,his sovereignty might be manifested in all things4 ,exalted then be ,he1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,almighty1 the ,supreme ,protector1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,powerful4 ,intone1 ,o ,my servant1 the verses of ,god that have been received by thee1 as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto ,him1 that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul1 and attract the hearts of all men4 ,whoso reciteth1 in the privacy of his chamber1 the verses revealed by ,god1 the scattering angels of the ,almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth1 and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb4 ,though he may1 at first1 remain unaware of its effect1 yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul4 ,thus have the mysteries of the ,revelation of ,god been decreed by virtue of the ,will of ,him ,who is the ,source of power and wisdom4 ,o ,khall6 ,god beareth ,me witness4 ,though ,my ,pen be still moving on ,my ,tablet1 yet1 in its very heart1 it weepeth and is sore distressed4 ,the lamp burning before the ,throne1 likewise1 weepeth and groaneth by reason of the things which the ,ancient ,beauty hath suffered at the hands of them who are but a creation of ,his ,will4 ,god1 ,himself1 knoweth and testifieth to the truth of ,my words4 ,no man that hath purged his ear from the loud clamor of the infidels1 and inclined it to all created things1 can fail to hear the voice of their lamentation and weeping over the trouble that hath befallen ,us at the hands of those of ,our servants that have disbelieved in1 and rebelled against1 ,us4 ,thus have ,we disclosed to thee a glimmer of the woes that have come upon us1 that thou mayest be made aware of ,our sufferings1 and patiently endure thy sorrows4 ,arise to aid thy ,lord at all times and in all circumstances1 and be thou one of ,his helpers4 ,admonish1 then1 the people to lend a hearing ear to the words which the ,spirit of ,god hath uttered in this irradiant and resplendent ,tablet4 ,say3 ,sow not1 ,o people1 the seeds of dissension amongst men1 and contend not with your neighbor4 ,be patient under all conditions1 and place your whole trust and confidence in ,god4 ,aid ye your ,lord with the sword of wisdom and of utterance4 ,this indeed well becometh the station of man4 ,to depart from it would be unworthy of ,god1 the ,sovereign ,lord of all1 the ,glorified4 ,the people1 however1 have been led astray1 and are truly of the heedless4 ,unlock1 ,o people1 the gates of the hearts of men with the keys of the remembrance of ,him ,who is the ,remembrance of ,god and the ,source of wisdom amongst you4 ,he hath chosen out of the whole world the hearts of ,his servants1 and made them each a seat for the revelation of ,his glory4 ,wherefore1 sanctify them from every defilement1 that the things for which they were created may be engraven upon them4 ,this indeed is a token of ,god's bountiful favor4 ,beautify your tongues1 ,o people1 with truthfulness1 and adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty4 ,beware1 ,o people1 that ye deal not treacherously with any one4 ,be ye the trustees of ,god amongst ,his creatures1 and the emblems of ,his generosity amidst ,his people4 ,they that follow their lusts and corrupt inclinations1 have erred and dissipated their efforts4 ,they1 indeed1 are of the lost4 ,strive1 ,o people1 that your eyes may be directed towards the mercy of ,god1 that your hearts may be attuned to ,his wondrous remembrance1 that your souls may rest confidently upon ,his grace and bounty1 that your feet may tread the path of ,his good-pleasure4 ,such are the counsels which ,i bequeath unto you4 ,would that ye might follow ,my counsels6 ,,cxxxvii3 ,,some ,,have ,,regarded ,,it ,,as ,,lawful ,,to ,,infringe444 ,some have regarded it as lawful to infringe on the integrity of the substance of their neighbor1 and have made light of the injunction of ,god as prescribed in ,his ,book4 ,evil fall upon them1 and the chastisement of ,god1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,almighty1 afflict them6 ,by ,him ,who shineth above the ,day ,spring of sanctity6 ,if the whole earth were to be converted into silver and gold1 no man who can be said to have truly ascended into the heaven of faith and certitude would deign to regard it1 much less to seize and keep it4 ,we have formerly referred to this subject in passages revealed in the ,arabic tongue1 in a language of exquisite beauty4 ,god is ,our witness6 ,whoever hath tasted the sweetness of those words will never consent to transgress the bounds which ,god hath fixed1 neither will he turn his gaze towards any one except his ,well-,beloved4 ,such a man will1 with his inner eye1 readily recognize how altogether vain and fleeting are the things of this world1 and will set his affections on things above4 ,say3 ,be ashamed1 ,o ye that call yourselves the lovers of the ,ancient ,beauty6 ,be ye admonished by the tribulation ,he hath suffered1 by the burden of anguish ,he hath carried for the sake of ,god4 ,let your eyes be opened4 ,to what purpose hath ,he labored1 if the manifold trials ,he hath endured are1 in the end1 to result in such contemptible professions1 and such wretched conduct8 ,every robber1 every worker of iniquity1 hath1 in the days prior to ,my ,revelation1 uttered these same words1 and performed these same deeds4 ,verily ,i say3 ,incline your ears to ,my sweet voice1 and sanctify yourselves from the defilement of your evil passions and corrupt desires4 ,they who dwell within the tabernacle of ,god1 and are established upon the seats of everlasting glory1 will refuse1 though they be dying of hunger1 to stretch their hands and seize unlawfully the property of their neighbor1 however vile and worthless he may be4 ,the purpose of the one true ,god in manifesting ,himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity1 to piety and trustworthiness1 to resignation and submissiveness to the ,will of ,god1 to forbearance and kindliness1 to uprightness and wisdom4 ,his object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character1 and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds4 ,say3 ,have mercy on yourselves and on your fellowmen1 and suffer not the ,cause of ,god--a ,cause which is immeasurably exalted above the inmost essence of sanctity--to be sullied with the stain of your idle fancies1 your unseemly and corrupt imaginations4 ,,cxxxviii3 ,,thou ,,seest1 ,o ,,god ,,of ,,mercy1 ,,thou444 ,thou seest1 ,o ,god of ,mercy1 ,thou ,whose power pervadeth all created things1 these servants of ,thine1 ,thy thralls1 who1 according to the good-pleasure of ,thy ,will1 observe in the daytime the fast prescribed by ,thee1 who arise1 at the earliest dawn of day1 to make mention of ,thy ,name1 and to celebrate ,thy praise1 in the hope of obtaining their share of the goodly things that are treasured up within the treasuries of ,thy grace and bounty4 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,o ,thou that holdest in ,thine hands the reins of the entire creation1 in ,whose grasp is the whole kingdom of ,thy names and of ,thine attributes1 not to deprive1 in ,thy ,day1 ,thy servants from the showers pouring from the clouds of ,thy mercy1 nor to hinder them from taking their portion of the ocean of ,thy good-pleasure4 ,all the atoms of the earth bear witness1 ,o my ,lord1 to the greatness of ,thy power and of ,thy sovereignty2 and all the signs of the universe attest the glory of ,thy majesty and of ,thy might4 ,have mercy1 then1 ,o ,thou ,who art the sovereign ,lord of all1 ,who art the ,king of everlasting days1 and ,ruler of all nations1 upon these ,thy servants1 who have clung to the cord of ,thy commandments1 who have bowed their necks to the revelations of ,thy laws which have been sent down from the heaven of ,thy ,will4 ,behold1 ,o my ,lord1 how their eyes are lifted up towards the dawning-place of ,thy loving-kindness1 how their hearts are set upon the oceans of ,thy favors1 how their voices are lowered before the accents of ,thy most sweet ,voice1 calling1 from the most sublime ,station1 in ,thy name the ,all-,glorious4 ,help ,thou ,thy loved ones1 ,o my ,lord1 them that have forsaken their all1 that they may obtain the things ,thou dost possess1 whom trials and tribulations have encompassed for having renounced the world and set their affections on ,thy realm of glory4 ,shield them1 ,i entreat ,thee1 ,o my ,lord1 from the assaults of their evil passions and desires1 and aid them to obtain the things that shall profit them in this present world and in the next4 ,i pray ,thee1 ,o my ,lord1 by ,thy hidden1 ,thy treasured ,name1 that calleth aloud in the kingdom of creation1 and summoneth all peoples to the ,tree beyond which there is no passing1 the seat of transcendent glory1 to rain down upon us1 and upon ,thy servants1 the overflowing rain of ,thy mercy1 that it may cleanse us from the remembrance of all else but ,thee1 and draw us nigh unto the shores of the ocean of ,thy grace4 ,ordain1 ,o ,lord1 through ,thy most exalted ,pen1 that which will immortalize our souls in the ,realm of glory1 will perpetuate our names in ,thy ,kingdom1 and safeguard our lives in the treasuries of ,thy protection and our bodies in the stronghold of ,thy inviolable fastness4 ,powerful art ,thou over all things1 be they of the past or of the future4 ,no ,god is there but ,thee1 the omnipotent ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting4 ,thou seest1 ,o ,lord1 our suppliant hands lifted up towards the heaven of ,thy favor and bounty4 ,grant that they may be filled with the treasures of ,thy munificence and bountiful favor4 ,forgive us1 and our fathers1 and our mothers1 and fulfil whatsoever we have desired from the ocean of ,thy grace and ,divine generosity4 ,accept1 ,o ,beloved of our hearts1 all our works in ,thy path4 ,thou art1 verily1 the ,most ,powerful1 the ,most ,exalted1 the ,incomparable1 the ,one1 the ,forgiving1 the ,gracious4 ,,cxxxix3 ,,let ,,thine ,,ear ,,be ,,attentive1 ,o ,,nab,l-,i-#8,a,,am1444 ,let thine ear be attentive1 ,o ,nabl-i-#8,aam1 to the ,voice of the ,ancient of ,days1 crying to thee from the ,kingdom of ,his all-glorious ,name4 ,he it is ,who is now proclaiming from the realms above1 and within the inmost essence of all created things3 8,i truly am ,god1 there is none other ,god but ,me4 ,i am ,he ,who1 from everlasting1 hath been the ,source of all sovereignty and power1 ,he ,who shall continue1 throughout eternity1 to exercise ,his kingship and to extend ,his protection unto all created things4 ,my proof is the greatness of ,my might and ,my sovereignty that embraceth the whole of creation40444 ,blessed art thou1 ,o ,my name1 inasmuch as thou hast entered ,mine ,ark1 and art speeding1 through the power of ,my sovereign and most exalted might1 on the ocean of grandeur1 and art numbered with ,my favored ones whose names the ,finger of ,god hath inscribed4 ,thou hast quaffed the cup which is life indeed from the hands of this ,youth1 around ,whom revolve the ,manifestations of the ,all-,glorious1 and the brightness of ,whose presence they ,who are the ,day ,springs of ,mercy extol in the day time and in the night season4 ,his glory be with thee1 inasmuch as thou hast journeyed from ,god unto ,god1 and entered within the borders of the ,court of unfading splendor--the ,spot which mortal man can never describe4 ,therein hath the breeze of holiness1 laden with the love of thy ,lord1 stirred thy spirit within thee1 and the waters of understanding have washed from thee the stains of remoteness and ungodliness4 ,thou hast gained admittance into the ,paradise of ,god's ,remembrance1 through thy recognition of ,him ,who is the ,embodiment of that ,remembrance amongst men4 ,wherefore1 be thankful to ,god1 for having strengthened thee to aid ,his ,cause1 for having made the flowers of knowledge and understanding to spring forth in the garden of thine heart4 ,thus hath ,his grace encompassed thee1 and encompassed the whole of creation4 ,beware1 lest thou allow anything whatsoever to grieve thee4 ,rid thyself of all attachment to the vain allusions of men1 and cast behind thy back the idle and subtle disputations of them that are veiled from ,god4 ,proclaim1 then1 that which the ,most ,great ,spirit will inspire thee to utter in the service of the ,cause of thy ,lord1 that thou mayest stir up the souls of all men and incline their hearts unto this most blessed and all-glorious ,court4444 ,know thou that ,we have annulled the rule of the sword1 as an aid to ,our ,cause1 and substituted for it the power born of the utterance of men4 ,thus have ,we irrevocably decreed1 by virtue of ,our grace4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,sow not the seeds of discord among men1 and refrain from contending with your neighbor1 for your ,lord hath committed the world and the cities thereof to the care of the kings of the earth1 and made them the emblems of ,his own power1 by virtue of the sovereignty ,he hath chosen to bestow upon them4 ,he hath refused to reserve for ,himself any share whatever of this world's dominion4 ,to this ,he ,who is ,himself the ,eternal ,truth will testify4 ,the things ,he hath reserved for ,himself are the cities of men's hearts1 that ,he may cleanse them from all earthly defilements1 and enable them to draw nigh unto the hallowed ,spot which the hands of the infidel can never profane4 ,open1 ,o people1 the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance4 ,thus have ,we1 according to a pre-ordained measure1 prescribed unto you your duty4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,the world and its vanities1 and its glory1 and whatever delights it can offer1 are all1 in the sight of ,god1 as worthless as1 nay1 even more contemptible than1 dust and ashes4 ,would that the hearts of men could comprehend it6 ,cleanse yourselves thoroughly1 ,o people of ,bah1 from the defilement of the world1 and of all that pertaineth unto it4 ,god ,himself beareth ,me witness4 ,the things of the earth ill beseem you4 ,cast them away unto such as may desire them1 and fasten your eyes upon this most holy and effulgent ,vision4 ,that which beseemeth you is the love of ,god1 and the love of ,him ,who is the ,manifestation of ,his ,essence1 and the observance of whatsoever ,he chooseth to prescribe unto you1 did ye but know it4 ,say3 ,let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning4 ,suffer not yourselves to be deprived of the robe of forbearance and justice1 that the sweet savors of holiness may be wafted from your hearts upon all created things4 ,say3 ,beware1 ,o people of ,bah1 lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds4 ,strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of ,god1 and to mirror forth ,his commandments4 ,let your acts be a guide unto all mankind1 for the professions of most men1 be they high or low1 differ from their conduct4 ,it is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others4 ,through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth4 ,happy is the man that heedeth ,my counsel1 and keepeth the precepts prescribed by ,him ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,cxl3 ,o ,,mu,,ammad-#8,,al6 ,,great ,,is ,,the ,,blessedness444 ,o ,muammad-#8,al6 ,great is the blessedness awaiting thee1 inasmuch as thou hast adorned thine heart with the ornament of the love of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,praised4 ,he that hath attained this station in this day1 all good shall be his4 ,pay thou no heed to the humiliation to which the loved ones of ,god have in this ,day been subjected4 ,this humiliation is the pride and glory of all temporal honor and worldly elevation4 ,what greater honor can be imagined than the honor conferred by the ,tongue of the ,ancient of ,days when ,he calleth to remembrance ,his loved ones in ,his ,most ,great ,prison8 ,the day is approaching when the intervening clouds will have been completely dissipated1 when the light of the words1 8,all honor belongeth unto ,god and unto them that love ,him10 will have appeared1 as manifest as the sun1 above the horizon of the ,will of the ,almighty4 ,all men1 be they high or low1 have sought and are still seeking so great an honor4 ,all1 however1 have1 as soon as the ,sun of ,truth shed its radiance upon the world1 been deprived of its benefits1 and have been shut out as by a veil from its glory1 except them that have clung to the cord of the unfailing providence of the one true ,god1 and have with complete detachment from all else but ,him turned their faces towards ,his holy court4 ,render thanks unto ,him ,who is the ,desire of all worlds for having invested thee with such high honor4 ,ere long the world and all that is therein shall be as a thing forgotten1 and all honor shall belong to the loved ones of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,bountiful4 ,,cxli3 ,a ,,book ,,sent ,,down ,,in ,,truth ,,unto ,,men ,,of444 ,a ,book sent down in truth unto men of insight6 ,it biddeth the people to observe justice and to work righteousness1 and forbiddeth them to follow their corrupt inclinations and carnal desires1 if perchance the children of men might be roused from their slumber4 ,say3 ,follow1 ,o people1 what hath been prescribed unto you in ,our ,tablets1 and walk not after the imaginations which the sowers of mischief have devised1 they that commit wickedness and impute it to ,god1 the ,most ,holy1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,most ,exalted4 ,say3 ,we have accepted to be tried by ills and troubles1 that ye may sanctify yourselves from all earthly defilements4 ,why1 then1 refuse ye to ponder ,our purpose in your hearts8 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,whoso will reflect upon the tribulations ,we have suffered1 his soul will assuredly melt away with sorrow4 ,thy ,lord ,himself beareth witness to the truth of ,my words4 ,we have sustained the weight of all calamities to sanctify you from all earthly corruption1 and ye are yet indifferent4 ,say3 ,it behoveth every one that holdeth fast to the hem of ,our ,robe to be untainted by anything from which the ,concourse on high may be averse4 ,thus hath it been decreed by thy ,lord1 the ,all-,glorious1 in this ,his perspicuous ,tablet4 ,say3 ,set ye aside ,my love1 and commit what grieveth ,mine heart8 ,what is it that hindereth you from comprehending what hath been revealed unto you by ,him ,who is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise8 ,we verily behold your actions4 ,if ,we perceive from them the sweet smelling savor of purity and holiness1 ,we will most certainly bless you4 ,then will the tongues of the inmates of ,paradise utter your praise and magnify your names amidst them who have drawn nigh unto ,god4 ,cling thou to the hem of the ,robe of ,god1 and take thou firm hold on ,his ,cord1 a ,cord which none can sever4 ,beware that the clamor of them that have repudiated this ,most ,great ,announcement shall not deter thee from achieving thy purpose4 ,proclaim what hath been prescribed unto thee in this ,tablet1 though all the peoples arise and oppose thee4 ,thy ,lord is1 verily1 the ,all-,compelling1 the ,unfailing ,protector4 ,my glory be with thee and with those of ,my loved ones that associate with thee4 ,these indeed are they with whom it shall be well4 ,,cxlii3 ,i ,,swear ,,by ,,the ,,beauty ,,of ,,the ,,well-,,beloved6444 ,i swear by the beauty of the ,well-,beloved6 ,this is the ,mercy that hath encompassed the entire creation1 the ,day whereon the grace of ,god hath permeated and pervaded all things4 ,the living waters of ,my mercy1 ,o #8,al1 are fast pouring down1 and ,mine heart is melting with the heat of ,my tenderness and love4 ,at no time have ,i been able to reconcile ,myself to the afflictions befalling ,my loved ones1 or to any trouble that could becloud the joy of their hearts4 ,every time ,my name 8the ,all-,merciful0 was told that one of ,my lovers had breathed a word that runneth counter to ,my wish1 it repaired1 grief-stricken and disconsolate to its abode2 and whenever ,my name 8the ,concealer0 discovered that one of ,my followers had inflicted any shame or humiliation on his neighbor1 it1 likewise1 turned back chagrined and sorrowful to its retreats of glory1 and there wept and mourned with a sore lamentation4 ,and whenever ,my name 8the ,ever-,forgiving0 perceived that any one of ,my friends had committed any transgression1 it cried out in its great distress1 and1 overcome with anguish1 fell upon the dust1 and was borne away by a company of the invisible angels to its habitation in the realms above4 ,by ,myself1 the ,true ,one1 ,o #8,al6 ,the fire that hath inflamed the heart of ,bah is fiercer than the fire that gloweth in thine heart1 and ,his lamentation louder than thy lamentation4 ,every time the sin committed by any one amongst them was breathed in the ,court of ,his ,presence1 the ,ancient ,beauty would be so filled with shame as to wish ,he could hide the glory of ,his countenance from the eyes of all men1 for ,he hath1 at all times1 fixed ,his gaze on their fidelity1 and observed its essential requisites4 ,the words thou hadst written have1 as soon as they were read in ,my ,presence1 caused the ocean of ,my fidelity to surge within ,me1 and the breeze of ,my forgiveness to be wafted over thy soul1 and the tree of ,my loving-kindness to overshadow thee1 and the clouds of ,my bounty to rain down upon thee their gifts4 ,i swear by the ,day ,star that shineth above the horizon of eternity1 ,i sorrow for thee in thy grief1 and lament with thee in thy tribulation4444 ,i bear witness to the services thou hast rendered ,me1 and testify to the various troubles thou hast sustained for ,my sake4 ,all the atoms of the earth declare ,my love for thee4 ,the call thou didst raise1 ,o #8,al1 is highly acceptable in ,my sight4 ,proclaim with both thy pen and tongue ,my ,cause4 ,cry out and summon the people to ,him ,who is the ,sovereign ,lord of all worlds1 with such zeal and fervor that all men may be set on fire by thee4 ,say3 ,o my ,lord1 my ,best-,beloved1 the ,mover of my actions1 the ,lode ,star of my soul1 the ,voice that crieth in mine inmost being1 the ,object of mine heart's adoration6 ,praise be to ,thee for having enabled me to turn my face towards ,thee1 for having set my soul ablaze through remembrance of ,thee1 for having aided ,me to proclaim ,thy ,name and to sing ,thy praises4 ,my ,god1 my ,god6 ,if none be found to stray from ,thy path1 how1 then1 can the ensign of ,thy mercy be unfurled1 or the banner of ,thy bountiful favor be hoisted8 ,and if iniquity be not committed1 what is it that can proclaim ,thee to be the ,concealer of men's sins1 the ,ever-,forgiving1 the ,omniscient1 the ,all-,wise8 ,may my soul be a sacrifice to the trespasses of them that trespass against ,thee1 for upon such trespasses are wafted the sweet savors of the tender mercies of ,thy ,name1 the ,compassionate1 the ,all-,merciful4 ,may my life be laid down for the transgressions of such as transgress against ,thee1 for through them the breath of ,thy grace and the fragrance of ,thy loving-kindness are made known and diffused amongst men4 ,may my inmost being be offered up for the sins of them that have sinned against ,thee1 for it is as a result of such sins that the ,day ,star of ,thy manifold favors revealeth itself above the horizon of ,thy bounty1 and the clouds of ,thy never-failing providence rain down their gifts upon the realities of all created things4 ,i am he1 ,o my ,lord1 that hath confessed to ,thee the multitude of his evil doings1 that hath acknowledged what no man hath acknowledged4 ,i have made haste to attain unto the ocean of ,thy forgiveness1 and have sought shelter beneath the shadow of ,thy most gracious favor4 ,grant1 ,i beseech ,thee1 ,o ,thou ,who art the ,everlasting ,king and the ,sovereign ,protector of all men1 that ,i may be enabled to manifest that which shall cause the hearts and souls of men to soar in the limitless immensity of ,thy love1 and to commune with ,thy ,spirit4 ,strengthen me through the power of ,thy sovereignty1 that ,i may turn all created things towards the ,day ,spring of ,thy ,manifestation and the ,source of ,thy ,revelation4 ,aid me1 ,o my ,lord1 to surrender myself wholly to ,thy ,will1 and to arise and serve ,thee1 for ,i cherish this earthly life for no other purpose than to compass the ,tabernacle of ,thy ,revelation and the ,seat of ,thy ,glory4 ,thou seest me1 ,o my ,god1 detached from all else but ,thee1 and humble and subservient to ,thy ,will4 ,deal with me as it beseemeth ,thee1 and as it befitteth ,thy highness and great glory4 ,o #8,al6 ,the bounty of ,him ,who is the ,lord of all worlds hath been1 and is still being1 vouchsafed unto thee4 ,arm thyself with ,his strength and power1 and arise to aid ,his ,cause and to magnify ,his holy name4 ,let not thine ignorance in human learning and thy inability to read or write grieve thine heart4 ,the doors of ,his manifold grace are within the mighty grasp of the power of the one true ,god4 ,he hath opened1 and will continue to open1 them in the face of all them that serve ,him4 ,i fain would hope that this breeze of ,divine sweetness will1 at all times1 continue to be wafted from the meadow of thine heart upon the whole world1 in such wise that its effects may be manifested in every land4 ,he it is that hath power over all things4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,most ,powerful1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,almighty4 ,,cxliii3 ,,blessed ,,art ,,thou1 ,o ,,my ,,servant1 ,,inasmuch444 ,blessed art thou1 ,o ,my servant1 inasmuch as thou hast recognized the ,truth1 and withdrawn from him who repudiated the ,all-,merciful1 and was condemned as wicked in the ,mother ,tablet4 ,walk thou steadfastly in the love of ,god1 and keep straight on in ,his ,faith1 and aid ,him through the power of thine utterance4 ,thus biddeth thee the ,all-,merciful ,who is suffering imprisonment at the hands of ,his oppressors4 ,if tribulation touch thee for ,my sake1 call thou to mind ,my ills and troubles1 and remember ,my banishment and imprisonment4 ,thus do ,we devolve on thee what hath descended upon ,us from ,him ,who is the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,wise4 ,by ,my ,self6 ,the day is approaching when ,we will have rolled up the world and all that is therein1 and spread out a new order in its stead4 ,he1 verily1 is powerful over all things4 ,sanctify thine heart1 that thou mayest remember ,me2 and purge thine ear1 that thou mayest hearken unto ,my words4 ,set then thy face towards the ,spot wherein the throne of thy ,lord1 the ,god of ,mercy1 hath been established1 and say3 ,praise be to ,thee1 ,o my ,lord1 for having enabled me to recognize the ,manifestation of ,thine own ,self1 and aided me to fix mine heart on the court of ,thy presence1 the object of my soul's adoration4 ,i beseech ,thee1 by ,thy name that caused the heavens to be rent and the earth to be cleft asunder1 to ordain for me what ,thou didst ordain for them that have turned away from all else but ,thee1 and rested their hearts firmly upon ,thee4 ,grant that ,i may be seated in ,thy presence on the seat of truth1 within the ,tabernacle of ,glory4 ,powerful art ,thou to do what ,thou willest4 ,there is none other ,god but ,thee1 the ,all-,glorious1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,cxliv3 ,,the ,,pen ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,high ,,hath ,,decreed444 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath decreed and imposed upon every one the obligation to teach this ,cause4444 ,god will1 no doubt1 inspire whosoever detacheth himself from all else but ,him1 and will cause the pure waters of wisdom and utterance to gush out and flow copiously from his heart4 ,verily1 thy ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 is powerful to do as ,he willeth1 and ordaineth whatsoever ,he pleaseth4 ,wert thou to consider this world1 and realize how fleeting are the things that pertain unto it1 thou wouldst choose to tread no path except the path of service to the ,cause of thy ,lord4 ,none would have the power to deter thee from celebrating ,his praise1 though all men should arise to oppose thee4 ,go thou straight on and persevere in ,his service4 ,say3 ,o people6 ,the ,day1 promised unto you in all the ,scriptures1 is now come4 ,fear ye ,god1 and withhold not yourselves from recognizing the ,one ,who is the ,object of your creation4 ,hasten ye unto ,him4 ,better is this for you than the world and all that is therein4 ,would that ye could perceive it6 ,,cxlv3 ,,if ,,ye ,,meet ,,the ,,abased ,,or ,,the ,,down-,,trodden1444 ,if ye meet the abased or the down-trodden1 turn not away disdainfully from them1 for the ,king of ,glory ever watcheth over them and surroundeth them with such tenderness as none can fathom except them that have suffered their wishes and desires to be merged in the ,will of your ,lord1 the ,gracious1 the ,all-,wise4 ,o ye rich ones of the earth6 ,flee not from the face of the poor that lieth in the dust1 nay rather befriend him and suffer him to recount the tale of the woes with which ,god's inscrutable ,decree hath caused him to be afflicted4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,whilst ye consort with him1 the ,concourse on high will be looking upon you1 will be interceding for you1 will be extolling your names and glorifying your action4 ,blessed are the learned that pride not themselves on their attainments2 and well is it with the righteous that mock not the sinful1 but rather conceal their misdeeds1 so that their own shortcomings may remain veiled to men's eyes4 ,,cxlvi3 ,,it ,,is ,,our ,,wish ,,and ,,desire ,,that ,,every ,,one ,,of444 ,it is ,our wish and desire that every one of you may become a source of all goodness unto men1 and an example of uprightness to mankind4 ,beware lest ye prefer yourselves above your neighbors4 ,fix your gaze upon ,him ,who is the ,temple of ,god amongst men4 ,he1 in truth1 hath offered up ,his life as a ransom for the redemption of the world4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,bountiful1 the ,gracious1 the ,most ,high4 ,if any differences arise amongst you1 behold ,me standing before your face1 and overlook the faults of one another for ,my name's sake and as a token of your love for ,my manifest and resplendent ,cause4 ,we love to see you at all times consorting in amity and concord within the paradise of ,my good-pleasure1 and to inhale from your acts the fragrance of friendliness and unity1 of loving-kindness and fellowship4 ,thus counselleth you the ,all-,knowing1 the ,faithful4 ,we shall always be with you2 if ,we inhale the perfume of your fellowship1 ,our heart will assuredly rejoice1 for naught else can satisfy ,us4 ,to this beareth witness every man of true understanding4 ,,cxlvii3 ,,the ,,most ,,great ,,name ,,beareth ,,me ,,witness6444 ,the ,most ,great ,name beareth ,me witness6 ,how sad if any man were1 in this ,day1 to rest his heart on the transitory things of this world6 ,arise1 and cling firmly to the ,cause of ,god4 ,be most loving one to another4 ,burn away1 wholly for the sake of the ,well-,beloved1 the veil of self with the flame of the undying ,fire1 and with faces joyous and beaming with light1 associate with your neighbor4 ,ye have well observed1 in all its aspects1 the behavior of ,him ,who is the ,word of ,truth amidst you4 ,ye know full well how hard it is for this ,youth to allow1 though it be for one night1 the heart of any one of the beloved of ,god to be saddened by ,him4 ,the ,word of ,god hath set the heart of the world afire2 how regrettable if ye fail to be enkindled with its flame6 ,please ,god1 ye will regard this blessed night as the night of unity1 will knit your souls together1 and resolve to adorn yourselves with the ornament of a goodly and praiseworthy character4 ,let your principal concern be to rescue the fallen from the slough of impending extinction1 and to help him embrace the ancient ,faith of ,god4 ,your behavior towards your neighbor should be such as to manifest clearly the signs of the one true ,god1 for ye are the first among men to be re-created by ,his ,spirit1 the first to adore and bow the knee before ,him1 the first to circle round ,his throne of glory4 ,i swear by ,him ,who hath caused ,me to reveal whatever hath pleased ,him6 ,ye are better known to the inmates of the ,kingdom on high than ye are known to your own selves4 ,think ye these words to be vain and empty8 ,would that ye had the power to perceive the things your ,lord1 the ,all-,merciful1 doth see--things that attest the excellence of your rank1 that bear witness to the greatness of your worth1 that proclaim the sublimity of your station6 ,god grant that your desires and unmortified passions may not hinder you from that which hath been ordained for you4 ,,cxlviii3 ,o ,,salm,n6 ,,all ,,that ,,the ,,sages ,,and ,,mystics444 ,o ,salmn6 ,all that the sages and mystics have said or written have never exceeded1 nor can they ever hope to exceed1 the limitations to which man's finite mind hath been strictly subjected4 ,to whatever heights the mind of the most exalted of men may soar1 however great the depths which the detached and understanding heart can penetrate1 such mind and heart can never transcend that which is the creature of their own conceptions and the product of their own thoughts4 ,the meditations of the profoundest thinker1 the devotions of the holiest of saints1 the highest expressions of praise from either human pen or tongue1 are but a reflection of that which hath been created within themselves1 through the revelation of the ,lord1 their ,god4 ,whoever pondereth this truth in his heart will readily admit that there are certain limits which no human being can possibly transgress4 ,every attempt which1 from the beginning that hath no beginning1 hath been made to visualize and know ,god is limited by the exigencies of ,his own creation--a creation which ,he1 through the operation of ,his own ,will and for the purposes of none other but ,his own ,self1 hath called into being4 ,immeasurably exalted is ,he above the strivings of human mind to grasp ,his ,essence1 or of human tongue to describe ,his mystery4 ,no tie of direct intercourse can ever bind ,him to the things ,he hath created1 nor can the most abstruse and most remote allusions of ,his creatures do justice to ,his being4 ,through ,his world-pervading ,will ,he hath brought into being all created things4 ,he is and hath ever been veiled in the ancient eternity of ,his own exalted and indivisible ,essence1 and will everlastingly continue to remain concealed in ,his inaccessible majesty and glory4 ,all that is in heaven and all that is in the earth have come to exist at ,his bidding1 and by ,his ,will all have stepped out of utter nothingness into the realm of being4 ,how can1 therefore1 the creature which the ,word of ,god hath fashioned comprehend the nature of ,him ,who is the ,ancient of ,days8 ,,cxlix3 ,,should ,,any ,,man1 ,,in ,,this ,,day1 ,,arise ,,and1444 ,should any man1 in this ,day1 arise and1 with absolute detachment from all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth1 set his affections on ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of ,god's holy ,revelation1 he will1 verily1 be empowered to subdue all created things1 through the potency of one of the ,names of the ,lord1 his ,god1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,know thou of a certainty that the ,day ,star of ,truth hath1 in this ,day1 shed upon the world a radiance1 the like of which bygone ages have never witnessed4 ,let the light of ,his glory1 ,o people1 shine upon you1 and be not of the negligent4 ,,cl3 ,,when ,,the ,,victory ,,arriveth1 ,,every ,,man ,,shall444 ,when the victory arriveth1 every man shall profess himself as believer and shall hasten to the shelter of ,god's ,faith4 ,happy are they who in the days of world-encompassing trials have stood fast in the ,cause and refused to swerve from its truth4 ,,cli3 ,,release ,,yourselves1 ,o ,,nightingales ,,of ,,god1444 ,release yourselves1 ,o nightingales of ,god1 from the thorns and brambles of wretchedness and misery1 and wing your flight to the rose-garden of unfading splendor4 ,o ,my friends that dwell upon the dust6 ,haste forth unto your celestial habitation4 ,announce unto yourselves the joyful tidings3 8,he ,who is the ,best-,beloved is come6 ,he hath crowned ,himself with the glory of ,god's ,revelation1 and hath unlocked to the face of men the doors of ,his ancient ,paradise40 ,let all eyes rejoice1 and let every ear be gladdened1 for now is the time to gaze on ,his beauty1 now is the fit time to hearken to ,his voice4 ,proclaim unto every longing lover3 8,behold1 your ,well-,beloved hath come among men60 and to the messengers of the ,monarch of love impart the tidings3 8,lo1 the ,adored ,one hath appeared arrayed in the fullness of ,his glory60 ,o lovers of ,his beauty6 ,turn the anguish of your separation from ,him into the joy of an everlasting reunion1 and let the sweetness of ,his presence dissolve the bitterness of your remoteness from ,his court4 ,behold how the manifold grace of ,god1 which is being showered from the clouds of ,divine glory1 hath1 in this day1 encompassed the world4 ,for whereas in days past every lover besought and searched after his ,beloved1 it is the ,beloved ,himself ,who now is calling ,his lovers and is inviting them to attain ,his presence4 ,take heed lest ye forfeit so precious a favor2 beware lest ye belittle so remarkable a token of ,his grace4 ,abandon not the incorruptible benefits1 and be not content with that which perisheth4 ,lift up the veil that obscureth your vision1 and dispel the darkness with which it is enveloped1 that ye may gaze on the naked beauty of the ,beloved's face1 may behold that which no eye hath beheld1 and hear that which no ear hath heard4 ,hear ,me1 ye mortal birds6 ,in the ,rose ,garden of changeless splendor a ,flower hath begun to bloom1 compared to which every other flower is but a thorn1 and before the brightness of ,whose glory the very essence of beauty must pale and wither4 ,arise1 therefore1 and1 with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts1 with all the eagerness of your souls1 the full fervor of your will1 and the concentrated efforts of your entire being1 strive to attain the paradise of ,his presence1 and endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible ,flower1 to breathe the sweet savors of holiness1 and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory4 ,whoso followeth this counsel will break his chains asunder1 will taste the abandonment of enraptured love1 will attain unto his heart's desire1 and will surrender his soul into the hands of his ,beloved4 ,bursting through his cage1 he will1 even as the bird of the spirit1 wing his flight to his holy and everlasting nest4 ,night hath succeeded day1 and day hath succeeded night1 and the hours and moments of your lives have come and gone1 and yet none of you hath1 for one instant1 consented to detach himself from that which perisheth4 ,bestir yourselves1 that the brief moments that are still yours may not be dissipated and lost4 ,even as the swiftness of lightning your days shall pass1 and your bodies shall be laid to rest beneath a canopy of dust4 ,what can ye then achieve8 ,how can ye atone for your past failure8 ,the everlasting ,candle shineth in its naked glory4 ,behold how it hath consumed every mortal veil4 ,o ye moth-like lovers of ,his light6 ,brave every danger1 and consecrate your souls to its consuming flame4 ,o ye that thirst after ,him6 ,strip yourselves of every earthly affection1 and hasten to embrace your ,beloved4 ,with a zest that none can equal make haste to attain unto ,him4 ,the ,flower1 thus far hidden from the sight of men1 is unveiled to your eyes4 ,in the open radiance of ,his glory ,he standeth before you4 ,his voice summoneth all the holy and sanctified beings to come and be united with ,him4 ,happy is he that turneth thereunto2 well is it with him that hath attained1 and gazed on the light of so wondrous a countenance4 ,,clii3 ,,thine ,,eye ,,is ,,my ,,trust1 ,,suffer ,,not ,,the ,,dust444 ,thine eye is ,my trust1 suffer not the dust of vain desires to becloud its luster4 ,thine ear is a sign of ,my bounty1 let not the tumult of unseemly motives turn it away from ,my ,word that encompasseth all creation4 ,thine heart is ,my treasury1 allow not the treacherous hand of self to rob thee of the pearls which ,i have treasured therein4 ,thine hand is a symbol of ,my loving-kindness1 hinder it not from holding fast unto ,my guarded and hidden ,tablets4444 ,unasked1 ,i have showered upon thee ,my grace4 ,unpetitioned1 ,i have fulfilled thy wish4 ,in spite of thy undeserving1 ,i have singled thee out for ,my richest1 ,my incalculable favors4444 ,o ,my servants6 ,be as resigned and submissive as the earth1 that from the soil of your being there may blossom the fragrant1 the holy and multicolored hyacinths of ,my knowledge4 ,be ablaze as the fire1 that ye may burn away the veils of heedlessness and set aglow1 through the quickening energies of the love of ,god1 the chilled and wayward heart4 ,be light and untrammeled as the breeze1 that ye may obtain admittance into the precincts of ,my court1 ,my inviolable ,sanctuary4 ,,cliii3 ,o ,,banished ,,and ,,faithful ,,friend6 ,,quench ,,the444 ,o banished and faithful friend6 ,quench the thirst of heedlessness with the sanctified waters of ,my grace1 and chase the gloom of remoteness through the morning-light of ,my ,divine presence4 ,suffer not the habitation wherein dwelleth ,my undying love for thee to be destroyed through the tyranny of covetous desires1 and overcloud not the beauty of the heavenly ,youth with the dust of self and passion4 ,clothe thyself with the essence of righteousness1 and let thine heart be afraid of none except ,god4 ,obstruct not the luminous spring of thy soul with the thorns and brambles of vain and inordinate affections1 and impede not the flow of the living waters that stream from the fountain of thine heart4 ,set all thy hope in ,god1 and cleave tenaciously to ,his unfailing mercy4 ,who else but ,him can enrich the destitute1 and deliver the fallen from his abasement8 ,o ,my servants6 ,were ye to discover the hidden1 the shoreless oceans of ,my incorruptible wealth1 ye would1 of a certainty1 esteem as nothing the world1 nay1 the entire creation4 ,let the flame of search burn with such fierceness within your hearts as to enable you to attain your supreme and most exalted goal--the station at which ye can draw nigh unto1 and be united with1 your ,best-,beloved4444 ,o ,my servants6 ,let not your vain hopes and idle fancies sap the foundations of your belief in the ,all-,glorious ,god1 inasmuch as such imaginings have been wholly unprofitable unto men1 and failed to direct their steps unto the straight ,path4 ,think ye1 ,o ,my servants1 that the ,hand of ,my all-encompassing1 ,my overshadowing1 and transcendent sovereignty is chained up1 that the flow of ,mine ancient1 ,my ceaseless1 and all-pervasive mercy is checked1 or that the clouds of ,my sublime and unsurpassed favors have ceased to rain their gifts upon men8 ,can ye imagine that the wondrous works that have proclaimed ,my divine and resistless power are withdrawn1 or that the potency of ,my will and purpose hath been deterred from directing the destinies of mankind8 ,if it be not so1 wherefore1 then1 have ye striven to prevent the deathless ,beauty of ,my sacred and gracious ,countenance from being unveiled to men's eyes8 ,why have ye struggled to hinder the ,manifestation of the ,almighty and ,all-,glorious ,being from shedding the radiance of ,his ,revelation upon the earth8 ,were ye to be fair in your judgment1 ye would readily recognize how the realities of all created things are inebriated with the joy of this new and wondrous ,revelation1 how all the atoms of the earth have been illuminated through the brightness of its glory4 ,vain and wretched is that which ye have imagined and still imagine6 ,retrace your steps1 ,o ,my servants1 and incline your hearts to ,him ,who is the ,source of your creation4 ,deliver yourselves from your evil and corrupt affections1 and hasten to embrace the light of the undying ,fire that gloweth on the ,sinai of this mysterious and transcendent ,revelation4 ,corrupt not the holy1 the all-embracing1 and primal ,word of ,god1 and seek not to profane its sanctity or to debase its exalted character4 ,o heedless ones6 ,though the wonders of ,my mercy have encompassed all created things1 both visible and invisible1 and though the revelations of ,my grace and bounty have permeated every atom of the universe1 yet the rod with which ,i can chastise the wicked is grievous1 and the fierceness of ,mine anger against them terrible4 ,with ears that are sanctified from vain-glory and worldly desires hearken unto the counsels which ,i1 in ,my merciful kindness1 have revealed unto you1 and with your inner and outer eyes contemplate the evidences of ,my marvelous ,revelation4444 ,o ,my servants6 ,deprive not yourselves of the unfading and resplendent ,light that shineth within the ,lamp of ,divine glory4 ,let the flame of the love of ,god burn brightly within your radiant hearts4 ,feed it with the oil of ,divine guidance1 and protect it within the shelter of your constancy4 ,guard it within the globe of trust and detachment from all else but ,god1 so that the evil whisperings of the ungodly may not extinguish its light4 ,o ,my servants6 ,my holy1 ,my divinely ordained ,revelation may be likened unto an ocean in whose depths are concealed innumerable pearls of great price1 of surpassing luster4 ,it is the duty of every seeker to bestir himself and strive to attain the shores of this ocean1 so that he may1 in proportion to the eagerness of his search and the efforts he hath exerted1 partake of such benefits as have been pre-ordained in ,god's irrevocable and hidden ,tablets4 ,if no one be willing to direct his steps towards its shores1 if every one should fail to arise and find ,him1 can such a failure be said to have robbed this ocean of its power or to have lessened1 to any degree1 its treasures8 ,how vain1 how contemptible1 are the imaginations which your hearts have devised1 and are still devising6 ,o ,my servants6 ,the one true ,god is ,my witness6 ,this most great1 this fathomless and surging ,ocean is near1 astonishingly near1 unto you4 ,behold it is closer to you than your life-vein6 ,swift as the twinkling of an eye ye can1 if ye but wish it1 reach and partake of this imperishable favor1 this ,god-given grace1 this incorruptible gift1 this most potent and unspeakably glorious bounty4 ,o ,my servants6 ,could ye apprehend with what wonders of ,my munificence and bounty ,i have willed to entrust your souls1 ye would1 of a truth1 rid yourselves of attachment to all created things1 and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves--a knowledge which is the same as the comprehension of ,mine own ,being4 ,ye would find yourselves independent of all else but ,me1 and would perceive1 with your inner and outer eye1 and as manifest as the revelation of ,my effulgent ,name1 the seas of ,my loving-kindness and bounty moving within you4 ,suffer not your idle fancies1 your evil passions1 your insincerity and blindness of heart to dim the luster1 or stain the sanctity1 of so lofty a station4 ,ye are even as the bird which soareth1 with the full force of its mighty wings and with complete and joyous confidence1 through the immensity of the heavens1 until1 impelled to satisfy its hunger1 it turneth longingly to the water and clay of the earth below it1 and1 having been entrapped in the mesh of its desire1 findeth itself impotent to resume its flight to the realms whence it came4 ,powerless to shake off the burden weighing on its sullied wings1 that bird1 hitherto an inmate of the heavens1 is now forced to seek a dwelling-place upon the dust4 ,wherefore1 ,o ,my servants1 defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires1 and suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate1 that ye may not be hindered from soaring in the heavens of ,my divine knowledge4 ,o ,my servants6 ,through the might of ,god and ,his power1 and out of the treasury of ,his knowledge and wisdom1 ,i have brought forth and revealed unto you the pearls that lay concealed in the depths of ,his everlasting ocean4 ,i have summoned the ,maids of ,heaven to emerge from behind the veil of concealment1 and have clothed them with these words of ,mine--words of consummate power and wisdom4 ,i have1 moreover1 with the hand of divine power1 unsealed the choice wine of ,my ,revelation1 and have wafted its holy1 its hidden1 and musk-laden fragrance upon all created things4 ,who else but yourselves is to be blamed if ye choose to remain unendowed with so great an outpouring of ,god's transcendent and all-encompassing grace1 with so bright a revelation of ,his resplendent mercy8444 ,o ,my servants6 ,there shineth nothing else in ,mine heart except the unfading light of the ,morn of ,divine guidance1 and out of ,my mouth proceedeth naught but the essence of truth1 which the ,lord your ,god hath revealed4 ,follow not1 therefore1 your earthly desires1 and violate not the ,covenant of ,god1 nor break your pledge to ,him4 ,with firm determination1 with the whole affection of your heart1 and with the full force of your words1 turn ye unto ,him1 and walk not in the ways of the foolish4 ,the world is but a show1 vain and empty1 a mere nothing1 bearing the semblance of reality4 ,set not your affections upon it4 ,break not the bond that uniteth you with your ,creator1 and be not of those that have erred and strayed from ,his ways4 ,verily ,i say1 the world is like the vapor in a desert1 which the thirsty dreameth to be water and striveth after it with all his might1 until when he cometh unto it1 he findeth it to be mere illusion4 ,it may1 moreover1 be likened unto the lifeless image of the beloved whom the lover hath sought and found1 in the end1 after long search and to his utmost regret1 to be such as cannot 8fatten nor appease his hunger40 ,o ,my servants6 ,sorrow not if1 in these days and on this earthly plane1 things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by ,god1 for days of blissful joy1 of heavenly delight1 are assuredly in store for you4 ,worlds1 holy and spiritually glorious1 will be unveiled to your eyes4 ,you are destined by ,him1 in this world and hereafter1 to partake of their benefits1 to share in their joys1 and to obtain a portion of their sustaining grace4 ,to each and every one of them you will1 no doubt1 attain4 ,,cliv3 ,,warn1 ,o ,,salm,n1 ,,the ,,beloved ,,of ,,the ,,one444 ,warn1 ,o ,salmn1 the beloved of the one true ,god1 not to view with too critical an eye the sayings and writings of men4 ,let them rather approach such sayings and writings in a spirit of open-mindedness and loving sympathy4 ,those men1 however1 who1 in this ,day1 have been led to assail1 in their inflammatory writings1 the tenets of the ,cause of ,god1 are to be treated differently4 ,it is incumbent upon all men1 each according to his ability1 to refute the arguments of those that have attacked the ,faith of ,god4 ,thus hath it been decreed by ,him ,who is the ,all-,powerful1 the ,almighty4 ,he that wisheth to promote the ,cause of the one true ,god1 let him promote it through his pen and tongue1 rather than have recourse to sword or violence4 ,we have1 on a previous occasion1 revealed this injunction1 and ,we now confirm it1 if ye be of them that comprehend4 ,by the righteousness of ,him ,who1 in this ,day1 crieth within the inmost heart of all created things3 8,god1 there is none other ,god besides ,me60 ,if any man were to arise to defend1 in his writings1 the ,cause of ,god against its assailants1 such a man1 however inconsiderable his share1 shall be so honored in the world to come that the ,concourse on high would envy his glory4 ,no pen can depict the loftiness of his station1 neither can any tongue describe its splendor4 ,for whosoever standeth firm and steadfast in this holy1 this glorious1 and exalted ,revelation1 such power shall be given him as to enable him to face and withstand all that is in heaven and on earth4 ,of this ,god is ,himself a witness4 ,o ye beloved of ,god6 ,repose not yourselves on your couches1 nay bestir yourselves as soon as ye recognize your ,lord1 the ,creator1 and hear of the things which have befallen ,him1 and hasten to ,his assistance4 ,unloose your tongues1 and proclaim unceasingly ,his ,cause4 ,this shall be better for you than all the treasures of the past and of the future1 if ye be of them that comprehend this truth4 ,,clv3 ,,the ,,first ,,duty ,,prescribed ,,by ,,god ,,for ,,his444 ,the first duty prescribed by ,god for ,his servants is the recognition of ,him ,who is the ,day ,spring of ,his ,revelation and the ,fountain of ,his laws1 ,who representeth the ,godhead in both the ,kingdom of ,his ,cause and the world of creation4 ,whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good2 and whoso is deprived thereof1 hath gone astray1 though he be the author of every righteous deed4 ,it behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station1 this summit of transcendent glory1 to observe every ordinance of ,him ,who is the ,desire of the world4 ,these twin duties are inseparable4 ,neither is acceptable without the other4 ,thus hath it been decreed by ,him ,who is the ,source of ,divine inspiration4 ,they whom ,god hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by ,god constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples4 ,he that turneth away from them1 is accounted among the abject and foolish4 ,we1 verily1 have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires1 and not to transgress the bounds which the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath fixed1 for these are the breath of life unto all created things4 ,the seas of ,divine wisdom and divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the ,all-,merciful4 ,hasten to drink your fill1 ,o men of understanding6 ,they that have violated the ,covenant of ,god by breaking ,his commandments1 and have turned back on their heels1 these have erred grievously in the sight of ,god1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,most ,high4 ,o ye peoples of the world6 ,know assuredly that ,my commandments are the lamps of ,my loving providence among ,my servants1 and the keys of ,my mercy for ,my creatures4 ,thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of the ,will of your ,lord1 the ,lord of ,revelation4 ,were any man to taste the sweetness of the words which the lips of the ,all-,merciful have willed to utter1 he would1 though the treasures of the earth be in his possession1 renounce them one and all1 that he might vindicate the truth of even one of ,his commandments1 shining above the day spring of ,his bountiful care and loving-kindness4 ,say3 ,from ,my laws the sweet smelling savor of ,my garment can be smelled1 and by their aid the standards of victory will be planted upon the highest peaks4 ,the ,tongue of ,my power hath1 from the heaven of ,my omnipotent glory1 addressed to ,my creation these words3 8,observe ,my commandments1 for the love of ,my beauty40 ,happy is the lover that hath inhaled the divine fragrance of his ,best-,beloved from these words1 laden with the perfume of a grace which no tongue can describe4 ,by ,my life6 ,he who hath drunk the choice wine of fairness from the hands of ,my bountiful favor1 will circle around ,my commandments that shine above the ,day ,spring of ,my creation4 ,think not that ,we have revealed unto you a mere code of laws4 ,nay1 rather1 ,we have unsealed the choice ,wine with the fingers of might and power4 ,to this beareth witness that which the ,pen of ,revelation hath revealed4 ,meditate upon this1 ,o men of insight6444 ,whenever ,my laws appear like the sun in the heaven of ,mine utterance1 they must be faithfully obeyed by all1 though ,my decree be such as to cause the heaven of every religion to be cleft asunder4 ,he doth what ,he pleaseth4 ,he chooseth2 and none may question ,his choice4 ,whatsoever ,he1 the ,well-,beloved1 ordaineth1 the same is1 verily1 beloved4 ,to this ,he ,who is the ,lord of all creation beareth ,me witness4 ,whoso hath inhaled the sweet fragrance of the ,all-,merciful1 and recognized the ,source of this utterance1 will welcome with his own eyes the shafts of the enemy1 that he may establish the truth of the laws of ,god amongst men4 ,well is it with him that hath turned thereunto1 and apprehended the meaning of ,his decisive decree4 ,,clvi3 ,,he ,,who ,,is ,,the ,,eternal ,,truth ,,hath1 ,,from444 ,he ,who is the ,eternal ,truth hath1 from the ,day ,spring of ,glory1 directed ,his eyes towards the people of ,bah1 and is addressing them in these words3 8,address yourselves to the promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men4 ,bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth1 that haply the dissensions that divide it may1 through the power of the ,most ,great ,name1 be blotted out from its face1 and all mankind become the upholders of one ,order1 and the inhabitants of one ,city4 ,illumine and hallow your hearts2 let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice4 ,ye dwell in one world1 and have been created through the operation of one ,will4 ,blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love40 ,,clvii3 ,,they ,,that ,,have ,,forsaken ,,their ,,country ,,for444 ,they that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching ,our ,cause--these shall the ,faithful ,spirit strengthen through its power4 ,a company of ,our chosen angels shall go forth with them1 as bidden by ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise4 ,how great the blessedness that awaiteth him that hath attained the honor of serving the ,almighty6 ,by ,my life6 ,no act1 however great1 can compare with it1 except such deeds as have been ordained by ,god1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,most ,mighty4 ,such a service is1 indeed1 the prince of all goodly deeds1 and the ornament of every goodly act4 ,thus hath it been ordained by ,him ,who is the ,sovereign ,revealer1 the ,ancient of ,days4 ,whoso ariseth to teach ,our ,cause must needs detach himself from all earthly things1 and regard1 at all times1 the triumph of ,our ,faith as his supreme objective4 ,this hath1 verily1 been decreed in the ,guarded ,tablet4 ,and when he determineth to leave his home1 for the sake of the ,cause of his ,lord1 let him put his whole trust in ,god1 as the best provision for his journey1 and array himself with the robe of virtue4 ,thus hath it been decreed by ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,praised4 ,if he be kindled with the fire of ,his love1 if he forgoeth all created things1 the words he uttereth shall set on fire them that hear him4 ,verily1 thy ,lord is the ,omniscient1 the ,all-,informed4 ,happy is the man that hath heard ,our voice1 and answered ,our call4 ,he1 in truth1 is of them that shall be brought nigh unto ,us4 ,,clviii3 ,,god ,,hath ,,prescribed ,,unto ,,every ,,one ,,the444 ,god hath prescribed unto every one the duty of teaching ,his ,cause4 ,whoever ariseth to discharge this duty1 must needs1 ere he proclaimeth ,his ,message1 adorn himself with the ornament of an upright and praiseworthy character1 so that his words may attract the hearts of such as are receptive to his call4 ,without it1 he can never hope to influence his hearers4 ,,clix3 ,,consider ,,the ,,pettiness ,,of ,,men',s ,,minds4 ,,they444 ,consider the pettiness of men's minds4 ,they ask for that which injureth them1 and cast away the thing that profiteth them4 ,they are1 indeed1 of those that are far astray4 ,we find some men desiring liberty1 and priding themselves therein4 ,such men are in the depths of ignorance4 ,liberty must1 in the end1 lead to sedition1 whose flames none can quench4 ,thus warneth you ,he ,who is the ,reckoner1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,know ye that the embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal4 ,that which beseemeth man is submission unto such restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance1 and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker4 ,liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety1 and to infringe on the dignity of his station4 ,it debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and wickedness4 ,regard men as a flock of sheep that need a shepherd for their protection4 ,this1 verily1 is the truth1 the certain truth4 ,we approve of liberty in certain circumstances1 and refuse to sanction it in others4 ,we1 verily1 are the ,all-,knowing4 ,say3 ,true liberty consisteth in man's submission unto ,my commandments1 little as ye know it4 ,were men to observe that which ,we have sent down unto them from the ,heaven of ,revelation1 they would1 of a certainty1 attain unto perfect liberty4 ,happy is the man that hath apprehended the ,purpose of ,god in whatever ,he hath revealed from the ,heaven of ,his ,will1 that pervadeth all created things4 ,say3 ,the liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto ,god1 the ,eternal ,truth4 ,whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven4 ,,clx3 ,,he ,,is ,,indeed ,a ,,true ,,believer ,,in ,,the ,,unity ,,of444 ,he is indeed a true believer in the unity of ,god who1 in this ,day1 will regard ,him as ,one immeasurably exalted above all the comparisons and likenesses with which men have compared ,him4 ,he hath erred grievously who hath mistaken these comparisons and likenesses for ,god ,himself4 ,consider the relation between the craftsman and his handiwork1 between the painter and his painting4 ,can it ever be maintained that the work their hands have produced is the same as themselves8 ,by ,him ,who is the ,lord of the ,throne above and of earth below6 ,they can be regarded in no other light except as evidences that proclaim the excellence and perfection of their author4 ,o ,shaykh1 ,o thou who hast surrendered thy will to ,god6 ,by self-surrender and perpetual union with ,god is meant that men should merge their will wholly in the ,will of ,god1 and regard their desires as utter nothingness beside ,his ,purpose4 ,whatsoever the ,creator commandeth ,his creatures to observe1 the same must they diligently1 and with the utmost joy and eagerness1 arise and fulfil4 ,they should in no wise allow their fancy to obscure their judgment1 neither should they regard their own imaginings as the voice of the ,eternal4 ,in the ,prayer of ,fasting ,we have revealed3 8,should ,thy ,will decree that out of ,thy mouth these words proceed and be addressed unto them1 #8,observe1 for ,my ,beauty's sake1 the fast1 ,o people1 and set no limit to its duration1' ,i swear by the majesty of ,thy glory1 that every one of them will faithfully observe it1 will abstain from whatsoever will violate ,thy law1 and will continue to do so until they yield up their souls unto ,thee40 ,in this consisteth the complete surrender of one's will to the ,will of ,god4 ,meditate on this1 that thou mayest drink in the waters of everlasting life which flow through the words of the ,lord of all mankind1 and mayest testify that the one true ,god hath ever been immeasurably exalted above ,his creatures4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,incomparable1 the ,ever-,abiding1 the ,omniscient1 the ,all-,wise4 ,the station of absolute self-surrender transcendeth1 and will ever remain exalted above1 every other station4 ,it behoveth thee to consecrate thyself to the ,will of ,god4 ,whatsoever hath been revealed in ,his ,tablets is but a reflection of ,his ,will4 ,so complete must be thy consecration1 that every trace of worldly desire will be washed from thine heart4 ,this is the meaning of true unity4 ,do thou beseech ,god to enable thee to remain steadfast in this path1 and to aid thee to guide the peoples of the world to ,him ,who is the manifest and sovereign ,ruler1 ,who hath revealed ,himself in a distinct attire1 ,who giveth utterance to a ,divine and specific ,message4 ,this is the essence of faith and certitude4 ,they that are the worshipers of the idol which their imaginations have carved1 and who call it ,inner ,reality1 such men are in truth accounted among the heathen4 ,to this hath the ,all-,merciful borne witness in ,his ,tablets4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,,clxi3 ,,gird ,,up ,,the ,,loins ,,of ,,thine ,,endeavor1 ,,that444 ,gird up the loins of thine endeavor1 that haply thou mayest guide thy neighbor to the law of ,god1 the ,most ,merciful4 ,such an act1 verily1 excelleth all other acts in the sight of ,god1 the ,all-,possessing1 the ,most ,high4 ,such must be thy steadfastness in the ,cause of ,god1 that no earthly thing whatsoever will have the power to deter thee from thy duty4 ,though the powers of earth be leagued against thee1 though all men dispute with thee1 thou must remain unshaken4 ,be unrestrained as the wind1 while carrying the ,message of ,him ,who hath caused the ,dawn of ,divine ,guidance to break4 ,consider1 how the wind1 faithful to that which ,god hath ordained1 bloweth upon all the regions of the earth1 be they inhabited or desolate4 ,neither the sight of desolation1 nor the evidences of prosperity1 can either pain or please it4 ,it bloweth in every direction1 as bidden by its ,creator4 ,so should be every one that claimeth to be a lover of the one true ,god4 ,it behoveth him to fix his gaze upon the fundamentals of ,his ,faith1 and to labor diligently for its propagation4 ,wholly for the sake of ,god he should proclaim ,his ,message1 and with that same spirit accept whatever response his words may evoke in his hearer4 ,he who shall accept and believe1 shall receive his reward2 and he who shall turn away1 shall receive none other than his own punishment4 ,on the eve of ,our departure from #8,irq1 ,we have warned the faithful to anticipate the appearance of the ,birds of ,darkness4 ,there can be no doubt whatever that the croaking of the ,raven shall be raised in certain lands1 as it hath been heard in recent years4 ,whatever may betide1 seek refuge in the one true ,god1 that ,he may shield you from the wiles of the impostor4 ,verily ,i say1 in this most mighty ,revelation1 all the ,dispensations of the past have attained their highest1 their final consummation4 ,thus counselleth you your ,lord1 the ,all-,knowing1 the ,all-,wise4 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,clxii3 ,,the ,,all-,,merciful ,,hath ,,conferred ,,upon ,,man444 ,the ,all-,merciful hath conferred upon man the faculty of vision1 and endowed him with the power of hearing4 ,some have described him as the 8lesser world10 when1 in reality1 he should be regarded as the 8greater world40 ,the potentialities inherent in the station of man1 the full measure of his destiny on earth1 the innate excellence of his reality1 must all be manifested in this promised ,day of ,god4 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath1 at all times and under all conditions1 remembered1 with joy and tenderness1 ,his loved ones1 and hath counselled them to follow in ,his way4 ,well is it with him whom the changes and chances of this world have failed to deter from recognizing the ,day ,spring of the ,unity of ,god1 who hath quaffed1 with unswerving resolve1 and in the name of the ,self-,subsisting1 the sealed wine of ,his ,revelation4 ,such a man shall be numbered with the inmates of ,paradise1 in the ,book of ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,clxiii3 ,,all ,,praise ,,be ,,to ,,god ,,who ,,hath ,,adorned444 ,all praise be to ,god ,who hath adorned the world with an ornament1 and arrayed it with a vesture1 of which it can be despoiled by no earthly power1 however mighty its battalions1 however vast its wealth1 however profound its influence4 ,say3 the essence of all power is ,god's1 the highest and the last ,end of all creation4 ,the source of all majesty is ,god's1 the ,object of the adoration of all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth4 ,such forces as have their origin in this world of dust are1 by their very nature1 unworthy of consideration4 ,say3 ,the springs that sustain the life of these birds are not of this world4 ,their source is far above the reach and ken of human apprehension4 ,who is there that can put out the light which the snow-white ,hand of ,god hath lit8 ,where is he to be found that hath the power to quench the fire which hath been kindled through the might of thy ,lord1 the ,all-,powerful1 the ,all-,compelling1 the ,almighty8 ,it is the ,hand of ,divine might that hath extinguished the flames of dissension4 ,powerful is ,he to do that which ,he pleaseth4 ,he saith3 ,be2 and it is4 ,say3 ,the fierce gales and whirlwinds of the world and its peoples can never shake the foundation upon which the rock-like stability of ,my chosen ones is based4 ,gracious ,god6 ,what could have prompted these people to enslave and imprison the loved ones of ,him ,who is the ,eternal ,truth8444 ,the day1 however1 is approaching when the faithful will behold the ,day ,star of justice shining in its full splendor from the ,day ,spring of glory4 ,thus instructeth thee the ,lord of all being in this1 ,his grievous ,prison4 ,,clxiv3 ,,members ,,of ,,the ,,human ,,race6 ,,hold ,,ye ,,fast444 ,members of the human race6 ,hold ye fast by the ,cord which no man can sever4 ,this will1 indeed1 profit you all the days of your life1 for its strength is of ,god1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,cleave ye to justice and fairness1 and turn away from the whisperings of the foolish1 them that are estranged from ,god1 that have decked their heads with the ornament of the learned1 and have condemned to death ,him ,who is the ,fountain of wisdom4 ,my name hath uplifted them to lofty grades1 and yet1 no sooner did ,i reveal ,myself to their eyes than they1 with manifest injustice1 pronounced the sentence of ,my death4 ,thus hath ,our ,pen revealed the truth1 and yet the people are sunk in heedlessness4 ,whoso cleaveth to justice1 can1 under no circumstances1 transgress the limits of moderation4 ,he discerneth the truth in all things1 through the guidance of ,him ,who is the ,all-,seeing4 ,the civilization1 so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences1 will1 if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation1 bring great evil upon men4 ,thus warneth you ,he ,who is the ,all-,knowing4 ,if carried to excess1 civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation4 ,meditate on this1 ,o people1 and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error4 ,the day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities1 when the ,tongue of ,grandeur will proclaim3 8,the ,kingdom is ,god's1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,praised60 ,all other things are subject to this same principle of moderation4 ,render thanks unto thy ,lord ,who hath remembered thee in this wondrous ,tablet4 ,all-,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of the glorious throne4 ,were any man to ponder in his heart that which the ,pen of the ,most ,high hath revealed and to taste of its sweetness1 he would1 of a certainty1 find himself emptied and delivered from his own desires1 and utterly subservient to the ,will of the ,almighty4 ,happy is the man that hath attained so high a station1 and hath not deprived himself of so bountiful a grace4 ,in this ,day1 ,we can neither approve the conduct of the fearful that seeketh to dissemble his faith1 nor sanction the behavior of the avowed believer that clamorously asserteth his allegiance to this ,cause4 ,both should observe the dictates of wisdom1 and strive diligently to serve the best interests of the ,faith4 ,let every man observe and meditate on the conduct of this wronged ,one4 ,we have1 ever since the dawn of this ,revelation until the present time1 refused either to hide ,ourself from ,our enemies1 or to withdraw from the companionship of ,our friends4 ,though encompassed with a myriad griefs and afflictions1 ,we have1 with mighty confidence1 summoned the peoples of the earth to the ,day ,spring of ,glory4 ,the ,pen of the ,most ,high is disinclined to recount1 in this connection1 the woes it hath suffered4 ,to reveal them would1 no doubt1 plunge into sorrow the favored among the faithful1 they that truly uphold the unity of ,god and are wholly devoted to ,his ,cause4 ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth1 and is the ,all-,hearing1 the ,all-,knowing4 ,our life hath1 for the most part1 been spent in the midst of ,our enemies4 ,witness how ,we are1 at present1 living in a nest of serpents4 ,this ,holy ,land hath been mentioned and extolled in all the sacred ,scriptures4 ,in it have appeared the ,prophets of ,god and ,his chosen ,ones4 ,this is the wilderness in which all the ,messengers of ,god have wandered1 from which their cry1 8,here am ,i1 here am ,i1 ,o my ,god0 was raised4 ,this is the promised ,land in which ,he ,who is the ,revelation of ,god was destined to be made manifest4 ,this is the ,vale of ,god's unsearchable decree1 the snow-white ,spot1 the ,land of unfading splendor4 ,whatever hath come to pass in this ,day hath been foretold in the ,scriptures of old4 ,these same ,scriptures1 however1 unanimously condemn the people that inhabit this land4 ,they have1 at one time1 been stigmatized as the 8generation of vipers40 ,behold how this wronged ,one is now1 whilst surrounded by a 8generation of vipers10 calling aloud and summoning all men to ,him ,who is the world's ,ultimate ,desire1 the ,summit and ,day ,spring of ,glory4 ,happy is the man that hath hearkened to the voice of ,him ,who is the ,lord of the ,kingdom of ,utterance1 and woe betide the heedless1 they that have strayed far from ,his truth4 ,,clxv3 ,,know ,,thou ,,that ,,every ,,hearing ,,ear1 ,,if ,,kept444 ,know thou that every hearing ear1 if kept pure and undefiled1 must1 at all times and from every direction1 hearken to the voice that uttereth these holy words3 8,verily1 we are ,god's1 and to ,him shall we return40 ,the mysteries of man's physical death and of his return have not been divulged1 and still remain unread4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,were they to be revealed1 they would evoke such fear and sorrow that some would perish1 while others would be so filled with gladness as to wish for death1 and beseech1 with unceasing longing1 the one true ,god--exalted be ,his glory--to hasten their end4 ,death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed4 ,it bestoweth joy1 and is the bearer of gladness4 ,it conferreth the gift of everlasting life4 ,as to those that have tasted of the fruit of man's earthly existence1 which is the recognition of the one true ,god1 exalted be ,his glory1 their life hereafter is such as ,we are unable to describe4 ,the knowledge thereof is with ,god1 alone1 the ,lord of all worlds4 ,,clxvi3 ,,whoso ,,layeth ,,claim ,,to ,a ,,revelation ,,direct444 ,whoso layeth claim to a ,revelation direct from ,god1 ere the expiration of a full thousand years1 such a man is assuredly a lying impostor4 ,we pray ,god that ,he may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim4 ,should he repent1 ,god will1 no doubt1 forgive him4 ,if1 however1 he persisteth in his error1 ,god will1 assuredly1 send down one who will deal mercilessly with him4 ,terrible1 indeed1 is ,god in punishing6 ,whosoever interpreteth this verse otherwise than its obvious meaning is deprived of the ,spirit of ,god and of ,his mercy which encompasseth all created things4 ,fear ,god1 and follow not your idle fancies4 ,nay1 rather follow the bidding of your ,lord1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,wise4