which perfumes the nostrils of the spirit. Thank ye God that He hath
filled for you the cup of gift with the wine of the great guidance and
hath abundantly bestowed His benefit on you and hath enabled you to be
healed from spiritual ailments which deaden the souls. Truly, I say unto
you verily this guidance is a precious pearl and a gem, the lights of
which glitter and the rays of which beam forth during centuries and ages.
Appreciate ye its value and show forth spiritual virtues, merciful
characteristics and brilliant manners; so that ye may be submerged in the
seas of great mercy and shine forth from the horizon of mighty gift.
"O thou who art longing for the Orb of the Horizons!..."
O thou who art longing for the Orb of the Horizons!(55)
Verily, I read thine eloquent, accurate and wonderful letter, whereby the
feelings of thy heart and the loftiness of thy thoughts and the craving of
thy spirit for the Kingdom of God were expressed.
Thank thou God that He hath given thee a power for discriminating the
reality of things, hath made thy feet firm in the Path, hath made thy
heart overflowing with His love and hath exhilarated thee with the wine of
His knowledge.
I beg of God to entirely remove the veiling from thine insight, so that
thou mayest become duly cognizant of the teachings of Baha'. And I beg of
God to forgive thy sins and to illumine thy face with the light of
forgiveness, so that thou mayest conquer the self which desires the
earthly world and prevent it from its wishes and appetites.
As to the spiritual meeting which ye have organized for diffusing the
fragrances of God (i.e., for teaching the Truth), this is a good thing
that ye have performed. I beg of God, to make the Holy Spirit breathe
there in such fragrances which may perfume all regions.
Be not grieved at the smallness of your number and thank God for the power
of your spirits. He shall assist you with such a confirmation whereat
minds will be astonished and souls will be amazed.
"O thou Secretary of the meanings emanated from the..."
O thou Secretary of the meanings emanated from the hearts of the people of
the Kingdom.
Verily, I have read thine eloquent letter and brilliant writing, which
indicated the attraction of the people of God by the fragrances of His
Kingdom, and their gathering in the assembly of the merciful feelings and
the congregation of the upright.
I do supplicate God to confirm that spiritual assembly, that gathering of
commemoration, to that whereby the merciful faces brighten, and I beseech
Him to assist them and thee to that whereby man ascends the highest and
noblest station of excellence and the loftiest apex of honor, to make them
humble and courteous before the beloved of God, to become severed from
aught else save God, to beseech the Kingdom of ABHA, to be freed from
every mention save the commemoration of God, and to be sanctified from all
the grades of passion and desire, with pure, holy hearts which are devoid
of every feeling except entire attention unto God, the Lord of the present
and the world to come.
I have written answers to the letters which thou hast sent and I enclose
them with this Tablet. I wrote also a Tablet to the assembly(56) ; read it
unto them with a fluent tongue and a heart overflowing with the love of
God.
"O ye who have advanced! O ye who are rejoiced!..."
O ye(57) who have advanced! O ye who are rejoiced!
Verily, God hath, through His grace and generosity, guided you toward His
Kingdom, hath facilitated unto you every good, hath favored you with the
bounty of guidance, hath made you signs of piety, hath caused a blessing
to descend upon you from heaven, and hath made you banners of His
commemoration among mankind.
Thank ye God for this gift, by reason of which the hearts of the Supreme
Concourse are exhilarated. The fragrances of holiness shall soon be
diffused and the breeze of grace shall blow from the direction of the
providence of your Lord, whereby your mentioning will be exalted, your
light will become scintillating, your backs will be strengthened and you
joy will be perfected.
Make you feet firm in the love of God, arise to carry on the teachings of
God, purify souls from desire and illumine faces with the light of
guidance; so that ye may obtain the might gift and the great mercy.
"O ye sincere ones and ye who are attracted and moved..."
O ye(58) sincere ones and ye who are attracted and moved by the breeze of
the favor of God!
Verily, I have read the names of your beloved assembly which deserves to
be mentioned with sanctity and which attracts the confirmation of the
loving Lord and seeks to attain to the favors of God, the Mighty, the
Compassionate!
I beseech God at all times, with all supplication, humility and lowliness,
to confirm these souls who have no purpose in their deliberation and
consultations save to seek the merciful bounties and the divine invisible
confirmations.
I hope and request, through the bounty of my Lord, that the greatest
assistance and the most eminent confirmation be granted unto you when ye
are firm and steadfast and withstand every difficulty which may befall you
in spreading the Cause of God in those regions.
By the life of God, all the confirmations of the Kingdom of God will
surround those whose hearts are firm, whose feet are steadfast and whose
souls are tranquilized in the Most Great Cause.
Consider ye the past centuries, how a single one of the beloved of God
withstood all the people on the earth because of his firmness in the love
of God, and his entire turning of the heart toward the Kingdom of God and
with the cup of his heart overflowing with the wine of the knowledge of
God.
Be ye assured with the greatest assurance that, verily, God will help
those who are firm in His Covenant in every matter, through His
confirmation and favor, the lights of which will shine forth unto the east
of the earth, as well as the west thereof. He will make them the signs of
guidance among the creation and as shining and glittering stars from all
horizons.
Consequently, do ye beseech unto God and pray and supplicate Him and ask
Him for the greatest gift and eminent favor.
"O thou who hast acknowledged the Kingdom of God!..."
O thou who hast acknowledged the Kingdom of God!
I received thy letter wherein thou hast confessed the appearance of the
Kingdom of God at this time, declared His Oneness and believed in His
Words. Blessed art thou for this clear confession! Thank the maid-servant
of God .............. for she hath guided thee to this Path and declared
to thee the Call of God. Shouldst thou offer all the treasures of the
earth to her, they would not equal this great guidance.
Depend upon God, be sincere and sever thyself from all else save Him. Thus
thou wilt receive the teaching of God and thy heart will be made happy.
May thy tongue praise Him and thy sight behold the light shining from the
Sun of Truth.
Verily, this is a rich blessing for which the saints of the past longed.
Be happy and say: "God chooses for His favors whomsoever He willeth. He is
the Merciful, the Generous!"
"O ye who are set aglow with the fire of God's Love!..."
O ye who are set aglow with the fire of God's Love!
Blessed are ye for having been chosen by God for His love, in this new
age, and joy be to you for having been guided to the Great Kingdom!
Verily, your Lord hath chosen you to show the path to the Kingdom of God,
among the people. The attracted maid-servant of God, ............ praised
you in beautiful expressions and informed me of your earnest endeavors in
serving, teaching and offering the chalice of Truth to the maid-servants
of God. I rejoiced to hear of your efforts in the Cause of God. This is
indeed good service.
"O thou who art turning unto God!..."
O thou who art turning unto God!
Thy letter was an inheritance of joy and happiness unto me, for its
significance was a supplication and an entreaty unto God to make thee a
pure servant, exempt from all material desires, sanctified and severed
from all save God, that thou mayest be characterized with the attributes
of the heavenly angels, cleansed from all desires and earthly wishes, with
thy heart severed from all save the knowledge of the divine teachings.
Verily, I pray God to nourish thee upon the breast of bounty and rear thee
in such a manner that all men of learning shall be amazed, and to make
thee a miracle of guidance among the servants.
"O thou who art attracted to God!..."
O thou who art attracted to God!
I send this letter written by my own hand, that thou mayest thank God, thy
Lord, the Supreme, grow in happiness in the love of God and be kindled by
the fire of His love, chanting verses of greetings and thanks, and be
quickened by the breezes of life blown from the garden of the knowledge of
God.
"O thou opened rose in the garden of El-ABHA!..."
O thou opened rose in the garden of El-ABHA!
I have perused thy excellently worded letter showing what is moving in thy
heart by the emotions of the love of God.
O maid-servant of God! Chant the Words of God and, pondering over their
meaning, transform them into actions! I ask God to cause thee to attain a
high station in the Kingdom of Life forever and ever.
"O thou who art tested with a great calamity!..."
O thou who art tested with a great calamity!
Be not grieved nor troubled because of the loss which hath befallen thee--a
loss which caused the tears to flow, sighs to be produced, sorrow to exist
and hearts to burn in great agony; but know, this hath reference only to
the physical body, and if thou considerest this matter with a discerning
and intelligent eye, thou wilt find that it hath no power whatsoever, for
separation belongeth to the characteristics of the body. But concerning
the spirit, know that thy pure son shall be with thee in the Kingdom of
God and thou shalt witness his smiling face, illumined brow, handsome
spirit and real happiness. Accordingly, thou wilt then be comforted and
thank God for His favor upon thee.
"O thou who art patient and resigning thyself to the..."
O thou who art patient and resigning thyself to the judgment (of God)!
Be not grieved at the calamity which hath unexpectedly come upon thee and
for the misfortune which heavily weigheth upon thee. It behooveth one like
thee to endure every trial, to be pleased with the decree and to commit
all thy affairs to God, so that thou mayest be a calm, approved and
pleasing soul before God. Know thou, that thy beloved son hath soared,
with the wing of soul, up to the loftiest height which is never-ending in
the Kingdom of God. Rejoice at this great prosperity which the chosen ones
were longingly asking from the Holy and Exalted Threshold (of God). Truly,
I say unto thee, wert thou informed of the position in which is thy son,
thy face would be illuminated by the lights of happiness and thou wouldst
thank thy forgiving Lord therefor and thou wouldst long for ascending to
that praiseworthy position.
"O thou who hast humbled thyself before the Kingdom..."
O thou who hast humbled thyself before the Kingdom of God!
Blessed art thou that thine heart is attracted to the Beauty of God, is
illumined with the light of knowledge and the ray of the Kingdom hath
shone within it.
Know thou, verily, God is with thee under all circumstances and guards
thee from the concerns of the world and makes thee a servant in His great
vineyard.
As to thy question concerning training children: It is incumbent upon thee
to nurture them from the breast of the love of God, to urge them towards
spiritual matters, to turn unto God and to acquire good manners, best
characteristics and praiseworthy virtues and qualities in the world of
humanity, and to study sciences with the utmost diligence; so that they
may become spiritual, heavenly and attracted to the fragrances of sanctity
from their childhood and be reared in a religious, spiritual and heavenly
training. Verily, I beg of God to confirm them therein.
As to thy revered husband: It is expedient that thou shouldst behave
toward him in the best way and persevere in his good pleasure (i.e.,
please him) and treat him with kindness under all aspects; until (or so
that) he may find that through thy turning toward the Kingdom of God
(i.e., by becoming a believer) thy affection toward him and thy love for
God is increased and that thou hast regard for his good will in every
condition.
Verily, I beg of God to make thee steadfast in His love and to cause thee
to diffuse the fragrances of sanctity in those places (i.e., to teach the
Truth).
"O thou loving torch, flaming by the fire of the Love of..."
O thou loving torch, flaming by the fire of the Love of God!
Verily, I read thy letter sent by thee and was rejoiced in heart by the
wonderful meaning and eloquent content, which proved thy extreme sincerity
in the Cause of God, thy steadfastness in the path of the Kingdom of God
and thy firmness in the religion of God, forasmuch as this is of the
utmost importance before God.
How many souls advanced unto God, entered the shadow of the Word of God
and became celebrated in the world, as Judas Iscariot. Then, when the
tests became severe and trials great, their feet turned from the path;
turned from confession to denial; changed from love and affection to
severe enmity. Then the power of tests, whereby the foundations shake,
were manifested.
Judas Iscariot was one of the greatest disciples, was called unto Jesus;
he thought that Jesus increased his kindness to Peter, the disciple, when
saying to him: "Thou art Peter; upon thee I shall build my church." This
speech affecting Peter with special impression whereby envy was created in
the heart of Judas and, therefore, he turned after advancing, denied after
confessing, hated after loving, until he became the cause of the
crucifixion of the Glorious Lord and Manifest Light. This is the end of
envy which causes people to turn from the right path. Such has taken place
and will occur in this Great Cause; but there is no harm in it, as it is
the cause of manifesting the firmness of the rest and the arising of the
firm souls who are as solid as the lofty mountains in the love of the
Manifest Light.
As to thee, convey unto the maid-servants of the Merciful that they must
be firm in the love of El-Baha at the time of the severe trials and tests;
forasmuch as the storms and winds occur during the winter seasons; then
comes the spring with the wonderful scenery and it adorns the hills and
plains with flowers and beautiful birds sing the melodies of joy on the
branches of the trees and warble beautiful tunes on the roofs of bowers,
in wonderful melodies. Soon shalt thou see that the lights have shone
forth, the banners of the Kingdom have been raised, the fragrances of God
diffused, the hosts of the Kingdom descending, the angels of heaven
confirmed and the Holy Spirit breathed into those horizons (regions). Then
shalt thou see the waverers frightened and at loss. This is a complete
matter on the part of the Lord of Signs.
Blessed art thou for keeping firm in the Cause of God. I pray God to give
thee a divine spirit, spiritual blood and to make thee a growing and
thriving leaf on the Tree of Life, so that thou mayest serve the
maid-servants of God in fragrance and spirituality.
Thy generous Lord will confirm thee in serving in His great vineyard and
will make thee an instrument for spreading the spirit of concord and union
among the maid-servants of the Merciful, will open thine insight by the
light of knowledge and forgive thee thy sins and change them to good
deeds.
Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful and Possessor of Great
Bounty!
"O maid-servant of God who art swayed like a strong..."
O maid-servant of God who art swayed like a strong branch by the breeze of
God!
I have read thy letter which evinces the abundance of thy love and the
warmth of thy devotion and thy zeal in acknowledging God.
Commit thyself to God; give up thy will and choose that of God; abandon
thy desire and lay hold on that of God; that thou mayest be a holy,
spiritual and heavenly example among the maid-servants of God.
O maid-servant of God! Know thou that in the sight of God, the conduct of
women is the same as that of men. All are the creatures of God and He has
created them after His form and likeness; that is to say, after the form
and likeness of the Manifestations of His names and His attributes. From
the spiritual point of view, therefore, there is no difference between
women and men. "The nearer we draw to God, the nearer He comes to us"
without regard to whether the person be a man or a woman. How many women,
thus drawn to God, have surpassed men in the shadow of Baha' in bringing
men under it--women famous throughout the world!
The House of Justice, however, according to the positive commandments of
the Doctrine of God, has been specialized to the men, for a (specific)
reason or exercise of wisdom on the part of God, and this reason will
presently appear, even as the sun at midday.
And as to you--you other maid-servants attracted by the perfume of
God--establish spiritual gatherings (assemblies) and heavenly meetings.
This work is the beginning of the diffusing of the perfume of God and the
foundation of the elevating of the Word of God and the making known of the
commandments of God. Is there a blessing greater than this? These
spiritual gatherings (assemblies) are sustained (reinforced) by the Spirit
of God, and their protector is Abdul-Baha, who spreads his wings (over)
above them. Is there a blessing greater than this? These spiritual
gatherings (assemblies) are glowing lamps and heavenly gardens which cast
the light of knowledge upon the contingent world and cause the spirit of
life to penetrate to every quarter. This, then, is the best means of the
progress of the human race in all conditions and circumstances. Is there a
greater blessing than this?
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily, I read thy beautifully composed letter and thank God for that He
granted thee characteristics, attributes and deeds which made thee dear
and loved by the maid-servants of God and chosen to be the president of
the "Assembly of Teaching." Thank God for that He confirmed thee by this
wonderful bounty, and, verily, I supplicate unto Him to strengthen thee in
rendering this great service in His great vineyard, and to strengthen thy
respected husband in patience and forbearance in this test which will pass
away, by the help of God, and the veil be removed; difficulty will be
replaced by ease; hardships and trouble be changed into comfort, in the
shadow of His great Kingdom.
"O thou dear maid-servant of God!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of God!
Thank God that thou hast come near unto the Holy Threshold and art dear in
the Kingdom of His Glory. Thou art president of an assembly which is a
type of the assemblages of the Supreme Concourse and a reflection of the
semblances of the Kingdom of God. With heart and soul, with entire
devotion, supplication, humbleness and submissiveness, endeavor to
promulgate the law of God and strive to diffuse the fragrances of God.
Exert yourself to become the real president of assemblies of spiritual
ones and a companion of the Kingdom of the Merciful.
Thou hast asked in regard to the 10th verse of the 21st chapter of
Revelation and to the 17th verse:
Know that the firmament of the bright sun of the world of possibilities is
divided into twelve sections, according to mathematical principles, which
are called the twelve constellations; likewise, the Sun of Truth manifests
and pours forth His bounty in twelve constellations of holiness. By these
constellations are meant holy souls who are the manifestations of purity
and the dawning-points of the lights of Unity. Observe that in the day of
His Holiness the Speaker of God (Moses), there were twelve holy souls who
were the leaders of the Truth. In like manner, in the cycle of His
Holiness the Spirit (Jesus Christ), note that there were twelve apostles
under the shadow of the light of the Most High, and the Sun of Truth was
manifested through those bright dawning-places like unto the phenomenal
sun. Likewise, in the time of His Holiness Mohammed, consider that there
were twelve dawning points of holiness who were the manifestations of
confirmation. Such is the case.
Accordingly, St. John, the divine, declared in his vision regarding the
twelve doors and the twelve foundations. By the great and holy city of
Jerusalem, which is descended from heaven, is meant the sacred law of God.
This subject has been repeatedly explained in many Tablets and in the
Scriptures of the ancient prophets. For example, it is said in one place:
"I beheld Jerusalem marching on to the wilderness." The purport is that
this Heavenly Jerusalem has twelve doors through which the advancing souls
enter into the City of God. These doors are the souls who are the stars of
guidance and doors unto bounty and knowledge. "At the gates twelve angels
stood." By "angel" is meant the power of the confirmation of God; that the
candle of the power of the divine confirmation shines forth and is
illumined in those souls. That is to say, that each one of those souls
will be confirmed by the mightiest power. Those twelve gates surround the
whole universe. This signifies that all existence is under the shadow of
those souls; also, that these doors are the foundation of the city of God,
the divine Jerusalem; that upon each of these foundations the name of one
of the Apostles of His Holiness the Spirit(59) is written. That is to say,
the manifestation of the perfections, glad-tidings, virtues and high
attributes of that holy soul.
In brief, it is said that: "And he that talked with me had a golden rod to
measure the city and the gates thereof and the walls thereof." The purport
is this, that certain souls guided (people) with a rod of the plant, that
is, a reed wherewith he shepherded the sheep, like unto the rod of Moses;
other trained (the people) with a rod of iron and drove them, as in the
time of Mohammed (The scepter of Mohammed was the sword). In this Greatest
Day the rod of the plant and the rod of iron are changed into a rod which
is of pure gold and is from the endless treasuries of the Kingdom of God.
By the instrumentality of this, all people shall be trained. Observe the
difference: In a certain time the teachings of God were like unto the
twigs of a tree and by them the signs of God were spread, the law of God
promulgated and the religion of God founded. Later a time came when the
rod of the divine Shepherd was like iron, and now in this blessed and
glorious cycle that rod is become like unto pure gold. What a great
difference exists between them! Therefore know that the law of God and the
divine teachings prove a great advance in this day. They have reached a
degree of supremacy, compared with former ages. Nay, rather, this is pure
gold, while that was iron and wood.
This answer was written briefly because there was no more time. You will
certainly excuse. The maid-servants of God must reach a station wherein
they themselves shall comprehend the realities and meanings, to give clear
explanations for each word and the fountains of wisdom gush forth from the
reality of their hearts like a full flowing stream.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God!
Verily, I noted the contents of thy letter, which was beautifully
composed, was informed of thy sorrow, the shedding of thy tears and the
glowing of thy heart on account of the imprisonment of Abdul-Baha.
O maid-servant of God! This prison is indeed more precious and sweet than
a garden to me, this fetter is greater than any liberty and the
confinement is broader than the most spacious wilderness. Therefore,
grieve not on this account. Verily, if my Lord destine unto me and causes
me to taste the sweetness of the cup of the great martyrdom, my greatest
desire will be fulfilled. Fear not if this Branch be severed from the
material earth and cast aside the leaves--nay, rather, its leaves will
flourish, for this Branch will grow after it is cut from the earth
(world), will ascend until it shelters the universe, its foliage will
reach the Supreme Apex and bear fruits, imparting fragrant perfume unto
the world. Therefore, turn unto thy Supreme Lord and say: