glad-tidings of God and turn to the kingdom of God with pure hearts,
sanctified souls, cheerful spirits, brightened eyes and illumined faces.
Verily, I say unto you then (when ye become so) the angels of holiness
will welcome you by the glad-tidings of God, the Mighty, the Powerful.
"O ye maid-servants of the Merciful! Leaves of the..."
O ye(79) maid-servants of the Merciful! Leaves of the Tree of Life!
Thank ye the Lord, for He hath removed the covering from off your insight,
illuminated your eyes by witnessing the Sun of Truth, purified your souls,
and hath quickened your hearts through the holy fragrances which are being
diffused from the garden of the kingdom of His Great Glory!
O ye maid-servants of the Merciful! It is incumbent upon you to soar up
with wings of joy and happiness unto the apex of exultation and gladness;
for He hath assigned unto you the greatest guidance in the Day of
Resurrection, and hath crowned you with the diadem of glory and divine
honor among the women of the whole world, and hath chosen you above the
queens of the world for His great bounty.
Verily, the crowns which are on the heads of the noble women--the queens of
the world--all their bases will be finally broken, their gems scattered
away, their luster removed and will become as dispersed dust. But your
magnificent crowns are everlastingly brilliant and permanently glorious
and mighty and their gems scintillating throughout cycles and ages.
This is the highest gift! This is the greatest bestowal! Thank ye your
Lord for this great bounty and favor! O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!
verily, your Lord, the Supreme, is calling upon you from His Ancient
Kingdom and announces unto you such glad-tidings, whereat the hearts of
the angels of heaven rejoice.
It is incumbent upon you to strip yourselves of every old garment (i.e.,
old beliefs and past customs). It is incumbent upon you to be severed from
this contemptible earthly world. It is incumbent upon you (to seek after)
the Kingdom, in this great Day!
Purify ye your hearts, sanctify your souls and cleanse your spirits; so
that ye may attain to this great success. Then ye will become the angels
of heaven, will enter among the Supreme Concourse and will permanently
abide in the paradise of union (with God), and will be associated with the
Beauty of El-ABHA.
"O ye firm, steadfast, and faithful Believers!..."
O ye(80) firm, steadfast, and faithful Believers!
Verily, I, from this brilliant and Blessed Spot, speak to you face to
face, while ye are in that far distant country, saying:
"O people of loyalty, O people of faithfulness, O people who are awakened
by the Breath of God, O people who are inhaling the scent of life from the
Spirit of God! The path hath become smooth, the way straightened, the
carpet of the Kingdom is spread, the Tabernacle hath been elevated upon
the Hill of Might, the powers of heaven have been shaken, the corners of
the earth have quaked, the sun has been darkened, the moon ceased to give
light, the stars have fallen, the nations of the earth have lamented, and
the Son of Man hath come upon the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory, and He hath sent His angels with the sound of the great trumpet,
and no one knows the meaning of these emblems save the wise and informed.
"Ye are the angels, if your feet be firm, your spirits rejoiced, your
secret thoughts pure, your eyes consoled, your ears opened, your breasts
dilated with joy, and your souls gladdened, and if you arise to assist the
Covenant, to resist dissension and to be attracted to the Effulgence!
Verily, I say unto you that the Word of God has assuredly been explained
and has become an evident sign and a strong and solid proof, and its
traces shall be spread in the East and West, and to these all heads shall
bow and all souls shall submit and kneel down with their faces to the
ground."
"O ye dear friends and maid-servants of God!..."
O ye(81) dear friends and maid-servants of God!
A good fragrance is coming from the rose-garden of Kenosha and a pleasing
breeze is blowing from the orchard of the hearts of the friends and
maid-servants of the Merciful.
Praise be to God, that town, by the presence of the beloved ones and the
maid-servants of the Merciful, hath become a veritable paradise and its
space, like unto the heavens, is illuminated with radiant lamps. If this
conflagration and attraction continue for a period, Kenosha will soon
attain great provisions, will travel with speed through the degrees of
existence and make great progress in the orders of the Kingdom.
Therefore, this prisoner implores and supplicates at dawn, seeking
strength and confirmation for the beloved of that town. Thus may heavenly
confirmation become your associate and the morn of eternal happiness dawn
upon ye and the Sun of Reality rise with such brilliancy as to dispel
entirely the gloom of ignorance from those horizons.
O ye real friends and dear maid-servants of God! The Lover of the East in
perfect love has outstretched His two hands to embrace the beloved of the
West and to rejoice in that love and unity.
O ye beloved of God! As long as ye can strive to set aglow the hearts with
love, be attracted to one another and be members of each other. Every soul
of the beloved ones must adore the other and withhold not his possession
and life from them, and by all means he must endeavor to make that other
joyous and happy. But that other (the recipient of such love) must also be
disinterested and life-sacrificing. Thus may this Sunrise flood the
horizons, this melody gladden and make happy all the people, this divine
remedy become the panacea for every disease, this Spirit of Reality become
the cause of life for every soul.
O ye friends and maid-servants of the Merciful! It is life-offering,
rejoicing, happiness and the manifestation of Divine Favors.
"O thou servant who art near and dear to the Glorious..."
O thou servant who art near and dear to the Glorious Threshold!
Give thanks to God for having been ushered into His Kingdom, partaken of
the heavenly table and the "lord's supper," attained ecstasy by the wine
of His love, become enrolled as a soldier for life among the hosts of the
Lord, and [for His having] blessed thy head with a crown of great
guidance, whose gems and pearls illumine the ages.
Convey the greetings of this imprisoned one to the beloved of God in the
spiritual assembly of Kenosha. Say unto them: "The Cause is Great! Great!
and the Kingdom of the Majestic Lord overshadoweth heaven and earth. Your
spiritual assembly should be a source of joy to the world of humanity and
be so illumined with light as to dispel the darkened horizons, withstand
the power of tests, remain firm and constant, be not disturbed by ordeals
and feel no difficulty in spreading the light of guidance. If ye attain
this attitude of firmness, the confirmation of the Divine will verily
penetrate the world through your meeting. But this requires
disinterestedness in worldly things and devotion to the Kingdom of ABHA,
perseverance and effort are requisites and firmness is a necessity. I beg
God to illumine the faces of each of you so that they may shine as stars
in the high firmament."
"O thou who art turning to the divine Kingdom!..."
O thou who art turning to the divine Kingdom!
The lengthy epistle was considered. Notwithstanding lack of time and
opportunity, on account of exceeding love an answer will be written.
Thank God thou didst become a soldier of life; subdued the domain of
hearts with the arms of the love of God and the sword of concord and
peace; didst go after the army of the Kingdom of ABHA; followed the
Supreme Concourse and by the aid of the Spirit made many conquests.
The merciful assembly of Kenosha hath in reality taken food and provisions
from the Kingdom of ABHA and become confirmed by the aid of the Sun of
Reality. Therefore, I am hopeful that, day by day, it may advance and
progress.
The members of the Spiritual Meeting (the Board of Consultation) must
endeavor, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make the souls real Bahais.
If they attain this glorious purpose, that country will be illumined and
that land will become a veritable paradise, all nations will look to that
assembly and from the explanation and exposition thereof receive realities
and meanings.
O thou servant of Baha'! Always remind the friends of the greatness of the
great message.
Convey longing greeting of great love from me to the members of the
Meeting of Consultation: * * * Whenever I think of them I find soulful
repose and conscious joy.
The feast (supper) [every nineteen days] is very acceptable and will
finally produce good results. The beloved and the maid-servants of the
Merciful must inaugurate the feast in such wise as to resurrect the feast
of the ancients--namely, the "lord's supper." The attracted maid-servant of
God, Mrs. ........, I hope will be inspired so she may become the means of
unity among the friends in every city. That meeting for feast for which
thou wert preparing and providing, should recur every so often, so that it
may prove a means of attracting the confirmation of the Kingdom of ABHA.
Inform the maid-servant of God, who prepared her home as a [temporary]
Mashrak-el-Azcar, that this service was accepted in the Kingdom of ABHA.
Inform the near (dear) maid-servant of God [thy wife], who hath organized
a school of industry in order that children may learn an industry and
chant communes, that this is very agreeable.
O thou servant of God! To look after the sick is one of the greatest
duties. Every soul who becomes sick, the other friends should certainly
offer the life (of service) in the utmost kindness.
Thou hast asked regarding the naming of children: When thou wishest to
name a babe, prepare a meeting therefor; chant the verses and communes,
and supplicate and implore the Threshold of Oneness and beg the attainment
of guidance for the babe and wish confirmated firmness and constancy; then
give the name and enjoy beverage and sweetmeat. This is spiritual baptism.
His honor, Mr. ......, Mrs. ...... and ...... arrived. They were attracted
by the fragrances of God and ignited by the fire of the love of God. With
a new spirit and fresh life they returned.
O son of the Kingdom! Thy services in the Kingdom of ABHA are evident,
well known and accepted. Indeed thou art a truthful servant of the Holy
Threshold and a firm caller to the divine Kingdom.
Strive so that the odor of violation cease and all come under the
protection of the Covenant.
Remain in and about that town and know that trial is the cause of
promotion. But thou must deal with all in the utmost love and do kindness.
Although they lift up the head of pride, show thou greater humility and
meekness and treat them with the utmost submission and lowliness.
Show the utmost kindness in my behalf to the near maid-servant of God (thy
wife).***
"O thou attracted maid-servant of God!..."
O thou attracted maid-servant of God!
This is a blessed address. If thou fulfill its requirements, which are
purity of intention, attractive love, insight, discovery of truth and
absolute spiritual attitude, thou wilt become entirely free from the
physical conditions and wilt soar to the spiritual realms.
"O servant of God!..."
O servant of God!
The content of thy letter was replete with spiritual feelings and was a
source of pleasure and of joy.
Of my freedom thou hast expressed great joy. I am free, although I should
remain in prison. All fortresses and castles shall not confine me, and the
dungeon cannot bring me under the narrow bondage of the world. The spirit
is every soaring, even if the body be in the depths. What can these
ignorant creatures do? They might imprison the body, but the spirit they
cannot; the spirit will ever soar in the atmosphere of eternal bliss and
glory. Therefore, neither the prison is a cause of sorrow, nor freedom
from it a source of joy.
When thou findest the way to the Kingdom, the earthly world shall be of no
account; and when thou art illumined the darkness will not affect
thee--nay, rather the four corners of the earth will then be radiant and
every thorn will become a rose and a rose-garden.
"O thou who art near to the Threshold of ABHA!..."
O thou who art near to the Threshold of ABHA!
I have considered what thou hast written to Mirza ...... as well as the
letter addressed to me. Thou hast written concerning the publication of
some proofs and arguments along with the Hidden Words. Now, since they are
published, circulate them among the people. I hope that it may produce
beneficial results. Perchance some of the souls who are truth-seekers may
get a little information about this Cause.
But afterward, if thou desirest to get the translation of a Tablet from
the Blessed Writings, it must be translated by a committee of two Persian
translators together with two competent English writers. The Persians
should translate, and the writers mould the significance into profound,
musical and perfect cast of style in English, and in such wise that the
musical sweetness of the original Persian may not be lost. Then the
material must be forwarded to me. I will consider the matter and give
permission for its publication and circulation. Consequently, rejoice thou
that thou hast already become specialized with this permission, that thou
hast circulated publications.
In brief, translation is one of the most difficult arts. In both Persian
and English utmost proficiency is necessary, that the translator be a
writer and use as the vehicle of expression great eloquence and fluency of
tongue.
I hope that thou mayest be confirmed with great service in the Cause of
God.
Announce to ...... on my behalf longing greeting, and show to him kindness
and love with thy whole energy, for he is very dear to me.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
The letter which thou hast written to his honor, Mirza ......, was
received. Its contents imparted the utmost happiness. Thank God that thou
hast crossed the ocean of the East and the West, reached to the Goal of
Desire and attained to the visit of the Holy Threshold.
Although the length of thy stay in this Most Great Prison was very short,
yet I hope that it may become like unto the oil, which no sooner comes in
touch with the fire than it becomes ignited. Therefore, God willing,
important results will be the outcome of this visit.
O thou who are firm in the Covenant! Be thou firm in the Cause and be
engaged in service. Awaken the souls and make mindful the (heedless)
minds. The spiritual outpouring will become uninterrupted and the meetings
of heart to heart constant. Rest thou assured upon the favor and bounty of
the Beauty of ABHA.
I became very sad upon hearing the news of the death of Mr. ......, but I
implored and entreated the Threshold of Oneness and sought mercy in his
behalf. Convey my greeting and love to his son and say: "Do thou not
lament on account of the death of thy father. Trust thou in God. Rely upon
the Kingdom of ABHA. That father of thine hastened to the world of
immortality and took a share from the realm of the Merciful and with the
utmost joy hath attained to eternal life in the everlasting universe. Walk
thou also in the footsteps of thy father and be characterized with his
attributes and qualities. Enkindle thou his lamp and fructify his garden,
so that thou mayest become his real son and worthy of the favors and gift
of the Almighty."***
"O my spiritual beloved!..."
O my spiritual beloved!
The days of association and intimacy(82) are not forgotten and the
sweetness of that love and meeting is still tasted in my heart.
Praise be to God! Its signs are apparent and its results manifest. Thank
thou God thou wast assisted in teaching the maid-servant of God, Mrs.
......, and supplicate Him that thou mayest be confirmed in the guidance
of innumerable souls. The confirmation of the Kingdom is with thee. Rest
thou assured. Loosen thy tongue with the utmost fluency and eloquence and
summon the souls to the Kingdom, explain the proofs and give forth the
arguments, and instruct the people in the exhortations and advices of God.
I pray in thy behalf and supplicate for thee from the Kingdom of Glory
protection and providence.***
"O thou fresh, slender branch saturated with the abundant..."
(83)O thou fresh, slender branch saturated with the abundant rain of His
bounty!
I ask God to continue the heavenly abundant gifts upon thee and to grant
thee more freshness, tenderness and fineness day by day. Verily I say unto
thee that man is likened unto a tree. And as the life of a tree and its
tenderness and brilliancy depend on the abundant rain descending from the
clouds, so also the happiness of man, his pleasure, dignity, loftiness of
position and highness of rank depend on the abundant bounty of the Kingdom
and the light of the Sun of Truth coming from the horizon of the gift of
God.
"O thou who art turned to the Kingdom!..."
O thou who art turned to the Kingdom!
Thou shouldst establish a divine and heavenly transaction. By God the
Truth! Every divine transaction is eternal and everlasting and giveth the
heavenly spirit to the pure hearts attracted to God, enlighteneth the
world with the bright shining [light] of love and unity, affinity and
agreement. But every worldly transaction, although it be a gift through
which the far and the near be profited, still it is transient and
temporary and will not last for ages and its blessings will not extend
successively to the righteous people in the ages to come. And as the
heavenly abundance and the divine gifts and the omnipotent grace come in
these days successively and uninterruptedly, therefore, thou shouldst
establish a heavenly edifice to facilitate and level the way before the
divine transaction, to carry out the divine order, to gladden the pure
hearts of every one, to sanctify thyself from everything but God and to
keep aloof from all the worldly things for the Cause of God; to be kindled
with the fire of the love of God, to spread the fragrance of God and to
expose thyself to the gentle breeze of God.
O my dear! If thou lovest to be happy and pleasant, this is the cup that
is full of the wine of glee and delight; and if thou desirest to have the
ancient glory, the eternal retinue and the everlasting dominion, thou must
look after these gifts which wave in the horizon of bounty with a
brilliant light to all sides and regions.
By my life! If thou knowest what thou art commanded and speak openly of
it, the dominion is for thee, the Kingdom is for thee and thy shining star
will never set, thy brilliant light never sink, thy brimful treasure never
be consumed and thy brave army never be deafeated.
"O thou who art nurtured from the breasts of the Kingdom..."
O thou who art nurtured from the breasts of the Kingdom of God, who wert
brought up in the lap of the Guidance of God!
I supplicate to God--exalted and glorified is He! --with a submissive,
imploring and attracted heart unto the Kingdom of God, to assist thee,
while still very young and of small age, with that by reason of which the
vigorous men and the greatest souls were assisted in attaining perfection.
Do not be amazed or astonished at the command of God, according to the
ordinances of Christ--glory be to Him! --unto the children who have been
fostered from the breasts of the bounty of God. I ask God that thou mayest
be as one of them. This is glad-tidings emanating from a heart filled by
the love of God. Therefore, know its value and station.
"O thou spiritual temple whose heart is drawn unto the..."
O thou spiritual temple whose heart is drawn unto the Horizon of
Certainty!
Verily, I am now in the Assembly of the beloved of God, whose hearts are
kindled with a burning, blazing and flaming fire from the fragrance of
God, and I have mentioned thee with a heart overflowing with thy love. By
my God! It is love which hath surrounded me from all directions and thus I
mention thee with a beating heart and with a spirit turned unto the
horizon of El-ABHA.
Therefore, thank God for this bounty, the traces of which I hope will be
spread, its lights shine and the fragrance of its breath diffused in the
whole world of existence forever and ever.
"O thou heavenly, brilliant and precious pearl!..."
O thou heavenly, brilliant and precious pearl!
I greet thee from this Holy Land with a fragrance from God and I desire
that thy heart become animated through the gentle breeze of God, thy bosom
dilated with joy by the miracles of the gifts of God, thine eye consoled
by seeing the lights of God, thy tongue by uttering the mention of
BAHA'O'LLAH, and thy taste to become sweet through the divine table
descending from heaven. Verily, I say unto thee that the gifts of thy Lord
are encircling thee in a similar way as the spirit encircles the body at
the beginning of the amalgamation of the elements and natures in the womb;
the power of the spirit begins then to appear in the body gradually and
successively according to the preparation and capacity to receive that
everlasting abundance. I ask God to help thee that the spirit will carry
out its power in thee as desired and wished.
"O thou faithful servant of the True One!..."
O thou faithful servant of the True One!
I received thy letter and its contents caused the utmost joy and fragrance
within me, because it showed thy firmness in the Cause of God and proved
thy steadfastness in the love of the Word of God. Its meanings were the
mystery of unity and its expression showed thy firm intention in serving
the glorious Lord.
I beseech the Threshold of Unity with all humility and supplication to
make thee confirmed in His service and to enable thee to be serviceable in
the Holy Threshold; that thou mayest not be a moment at rest nor take a
breath of composure; nay, rather to pass all thy life in this greatest
gift and this supreme favor employed in diffusing the breath of God; that
thy sincerity of heart, thy sanctity and purity may increase and that thou
mayest become entirely separated from aught else save God. Except a man be
purified and sanctified from the soil of his dependence on this world, the
spiritual purity will not become manifest in him. The more the mirror is
clear and pure the greater will the rays and the bounties of the Sun of
Truth show forth from it.
As to those things published in journals against thee: Thou shouldst not
be grieved nor sorry therefor, because thousands of journals have written
traducing Abdul-Baha, have given false and base accusations and awful
calumnies. Notwithstanding these he was neither troubled nor grieved
thereby; nay, rather these cause me to exert myself more than usual in the
path of God and to drink the cup of sacrifice and to boil in the fire of
His love. Man must seek to gain the acceptance of God and not that of the
different classes of men. If one is praised and chosen by God, the
accusation of all the creatures will cause no loss to him; and if the man
is not accepted in the threshold of God, the praise and admiration of all
men will be of no use to him.
By all these it is meant that thou must not be sorry and grieved because
of these things the papers have written against thee; nay, rather trust in
God and be unmoved by either the praise or the false accusations declared
by people towards thee, depend entirely on God and exert thyself to serve
His holy vineyard. All else save this is but imagination, though it be the
praises of all people in thy behalf; because all else is of no result and
bears no fruit.
As to thine action against the journal which hath libeled thee: It is not
at all best to bring action against them, because there is no profit in
doing that; nay, it will lead to more sayings of a similar nature. Under
these circumstances silence is best. Thou must not be disappointed, sorry
or grieved thereat; God will remove all these difficulties. If thou wilt
employ thyself in the service (of the Cause of God) the past losses will
be recovered and all the troubles will be settled.
This is the manifest truth.
Send my greeting to the enlightened leaf, the maid-servant of God, thy
noble wife.
"O thou son of the Kingdom!..."
O thou son of the Kingdom!