at these grievous events, such as the slaughter of their Chief and the
rest, but did rather increase and multiply; still, since the Bab was but
beginning to lay the foundations when He was slain, therefore was this
community ignorant concerning its proper conduct, action, behavior, and
duty, their sole guiding principle being love for the Bab. This ignorance
was the reason that in some parts disturbances occurred; for, experiencing
violent molestation, they unclosed their hands in self-defense. But after
His return Baha'u'llah made such strenuous efforts in educating, teaching,
training, regulating, and reconstructing this community that in a short
while all these troubles and mischiefs were quenched, and the utmost
tranquility and repose reigned in men's hearts; so that, according to what
hath been heard, it became clear and obvious even to statesmen that the
fundamental intentions and ideas of this sect were things spiritual, and
such as are connected with pure hearts; that their true and essential
principles were to reform the morals and beautify the conduct of the human
race, and that with things material they had absolutely no concern.
When these principles, then, were established in the hearts of this sect
they so acted in all lands that they became celebrated amongst statesmen
for gentleness of spirit, steadfastness of heart, right intent, good
deeds, and excellence of conduct. For this people are most well-disposed
towards obedience and submissiveness, and, on receiving such instruction,
they conformed their conduct and behavior thereto. Formerly exception was
taken to the words, deeds, demeanor, morals, and conduct of this sect: now
objection is made in Persia to their tenets and spiritual state. Now this
is beyond the power of man, that he should be able by interference or
objection to change the heart and conscience, or meddle with the
convictions of anyone. For in the realm of conscience naught but the ray
of God's light can command, and on the throne of the heart none but the
pervading power of the King of Kings should rule. Thus it is that one can
arrest and suspend [the action of] every faculty except thought and
reflection; for a man cannot even by his own volition withhold himself
from reflection or thought, nor keep back his musings and imaginings.
At all events the undeniable truth is this, that for nigh upon thirty-five
years no action opposed to the government or prejudicial to the nation has
emanated from this sect or been witnessed [on their part], and that during
this long period, notwithstanding the fact that their numbers and strength
are double what they were formerly, no sound has arisen from any place,
except that every now and then learned doctors and eminent scholars
(really for the extension of this report through the world and the
awakening of men) sentence some few to death. For such interference is not
destruction but edification when thou regardest the truth, which will not
thereby become quenched and forgotten, but rather stimulated and
advertised.
I will at least relate one short anecdote of what actually took place. A
certain person violently molested and grievously injured a certain Babi.
The victim unclosed his hand in retaliation and arose to take vengeance,
unsheathing his weapon against the aggressor. Becoming the object of
censure and reprimand of this sect, however, he took refuge in flight.
[Pages 41-60]
When he reached Hamadan his character became known, and, as he was of the
clerical class, the doctors vehemently pursued him, handed him over to the
government, and ordered chastisement to be inflicted. By chance there fell
out from the fold of his collar a document written by Baha'u'llah, the
subject of which was reproof of attempts at retaliation, censure and
reprobation of the search after vengeance, and prohibition from following
after lusts. Amongst other matters they found these expressions contained
in it: "Verily God is quit of the seditious," and likewise: "If ye be
slain it is better for you than that ye should slay. And when ye are
tormented have recourse to the controllers of affairs and the refuge of
the people; and if ye be neglected then entrust your affairs to the
Jealous Lord. This is the mark of the sincere, and the characteristic of
the assured." When the governor became cognizant of this writing he
addressed that person saying, "By the decree of that Chief whom you
yourself obey correction is necessary and punishment and chastisement
obligatory." "If," replied that person, "you will carry out all His
precepts I shall have the utmost pleasure in [submitting to] punishment
and death." The governor smiled and let the man go.
So Baha'u'llah made the utmost efforts to educate [His people] and incite
[them] to morality, the acquisition of the sciences and arts of all
countries, kindly dealing with all the nations of the earth, desire for
the welfare of all peoples, sociability, concord, obedience,
submissiveness, instruction of [their] children, production of what is
needful for the human race, and inauguration of true happiness for
mankind; and He continually kept sending tracts of admonition to all
parts, whereby a wonderful effect was produced. Some of these epistles
have, after extreme search and inquiry, been examined, and some portions
of them shall now be set down in writing.
All these epistles consisted of [exhortations to] purity of morals,
encouragement to good conduct, reprobation of certain individuals, and
complaints of the seditious. Amongst others this sentence was recorded:
"My captivity is not My abasement: by My life, it is indeed a glory unto
Me! But the abasement is the action of My friends who connect themselves
with Us and follow the devil in their actions. Amongst them is he who
taketh lust and turneth aside from what is commanded; and amongst them is
he who followeth the truth in right guidance. As for those who commit sin
and cling to the world they are assuredly not of the people of Baha."
So again: "Well it is with him who is adorned with the decoration of
manners and morals: verily he is of those who help their Lord with clear
perspicuous action."
"He is God, exalted is His state, wisdom and utterance. The True One
(glorious is His glory) for the showing forth of the gems of ideals from
the mine of man, hath, in every age, sent a Trusted One. The primary
foundation of the faith of God and the religion of God is this, that they
should not make diverse sects and various paths the cause and reason of
hatred. These principles and laws and firm sure roads appear from one
dawning-place and shine from one dayspring, and these diversities were out
of regard for the requirements of the time, season, ages, and epochs. O
unitarians, make firm the girdle of endeavor, that perchance religious
strife and conflict may be removed from amongst the people of the world
and be annulled. For love of God and His servants engage in this great and
mighty matter. Religious hatred and rancor is a world-consuming fire, and
the quenching thereof most arduous, unless the hand of Divine Might give
men deliverance from this unfruitful calamity. Consider a war which
happeneth between two states: both sides have foregone wealth and life:
how many villages were beheld as though they were not! This precept is in
the position of the light in the lamp of utterance."
"O people of the world, ye are all the fruit of one tree and the leaves of
one branch. Walk with perfect charity, concord, affection, and agreement.
I swear by the Sun of Truth, the light of agreement shall brighten and
illumine the horizons. The all-knowing Truth hath been and is the witness
to this saying. Endeavor to attain to this high supreme station which is
the station of protection and preservation of mankind. This is the intent
of the King of intentions, and this the hope of the Lord of hopes."
"We trust that God will assist the kings of the earth to illuminate and
adorn the earth with the refulgent light of the Sun of Justice. At one
time We spoke in the language of the Law, at another time in the language
of the Truth and the Way; and the ultimate object and remote aim was the
showing forth of this high supreme station. And God sufficeth for
witness."
"O friends, consort with all the people of the world with joy and
fragrance. If there be to you a word or essence whereof others than you
are devoid, communicate it and show it forth in the language of affection
and kindness: if it be received and be effective the object is attained,
and if not leave it to him, and with regard to him deal not harshly but
pray. The language of kindness is the lodestone of hearts and the food of
the soul; it stands in the relation of ideas to words, and is as an
horizon for the shining of the Sun of Wisdom and Knowledge."
"If the unitarians had in the latter times acted according to the glorious
Law [which came] after His Highness the Seal [of the Prophets] (may the
life of all beside Him be His sacrifice!), and had clung to its skirt, the
foundation of the fortress of religion would not have been shaken, and
populous cities would not have been ruined, but rather cities and villages
would have acquired and been adorned with the decoration of peace and
serenity."
"Through the heedlessness and discordance of the favored people and the
smoke of wicked souls the Fair Nation is seen to be darkened and
enfeebled. Had they acted [according to what they knew] they would not
have been heedless of the light of the Sun of Justice."
"This Victim hath from earliest days until now been afflicted at the hands
of the heedless. They exiled Us without cause at one time to 'Iraq, at
another time to Adrianople, and thence to Akka, which was a place of exile
for murderers and robbers; neither is it known where and in what spot We
shall take up Our abode after this greatest prison-house. Knowledge is
with God, the Lord of the Throne and of the dust and the Lord of the lofty
seat. In whatever place We may be, and whatever befall Us, the saints must
gaze with perfect steadfastness and confidence towards the Supreme Horizon
and occupy themselves in the reformation of the world and the education of
the nations. What hath befallen and shall befall hath been and is an
instrument and means for the furtherance of the Word of Unity. Take hold
of the command of God and cling thereto: verily it hath been sent down
from beside a wise Ordainer."
"With perfect compassion and mercy have We guided and directed the people
of the world to that whereby their souls shall be profited. I swear by the
Sun of Truth which hath shone forth from the highest horizons of the world
that the people of Baha had not and have not any aim save the prosperity
and reformation of the world and the purifying of the nations. With all
men they have been in sincerity and charity. Their outward [appearance] is
one with their inward [heart], and their inward [heart] identical with
their outward [appearance]. The truth of the matter is not hidden or
concealed, but plain and evident before [men's] faces. Their very deeds
are the witness of this assertion. Today let everyone endowed with vision
win his way from deeds and signs to the object of the people of Baha and
from their speech and conduct gain knowledge of their intent. The waves of
the ocean of divine mercy appear at the utmost height, and the showers of
the clouds of His grace and favor descend every moment. During the days of
sojourn in 'Iraq this Oppressed One sat down and consorted with all
classes without veil or disguise. How many of the denizens of the horizons
entered in enmity and went forth in sympathy! The door of grace was open
before the faces of all. With rebellious and obedient did We outwardly
converse after one fashion, that perchance the evildoers might win their
way to the ocean of boundless forgiveness. The splendors of the Name of
the Concealer were in such wise manifested that the evildoer imagined that
he was accounted of the good. No messenger was disappointed and no
inquirer was turned back. The causes of the aversion and avoidance of men
were certain of the doctors of Persia and the unseemly deeds of the
ignorant. By [the term] 'doctors' in these passages are signified those
persons who have withheld mankind from the shore of the Ocean of Unity;
but as for the learned who practice [their knowledge] and the wise who act
justly, they are as the spirit unto the body of the world. Well is it with
that learned man whose head is adorned with the crown of justice, and
whose body glorieth in the ornament of honesty. The Pen of Admonition
exhorteth the friends and enjoineth on them charity, pity, wisdom, and
gentleness. The Oppressed One is this day a prisoner; His allies are the
hosts of good deeds and virtues; not ranks, and hosts, and guns, and
cannons.(21) One holy action maketh the world of earth highest paradise.
"O friends, help the Oppressed One with well-pleasing virtues and good
deeds! Today let every soul desire to attain the highest station. He must
not regard what is in him, but what is in God. It is not for him to regard
what shall advantage himself, but that whereby the Word of God which must
be obeyed shall be upraised. The heart must be sanctified from every form
of selfishness and lust, for the weapons of the unitarians and the saints
were and are the fear of God. That is the buckler which guardeth man from
the arrows of hatred and abomination. Unceasingly hath the standard of
piety been victorious, and accounted amongst the most puissant hosts of
the world. Thereby do the saints subdue the cities of [men's] hearts by
the permission of God, the Lord of hosts. Darkness hath encompassed the
earth: the lamp which giveth light was and is wisdom. The dictates thereof
must be observed under all circumstances. And of wisdom is the regard of
place and the utterance of discourse according to measure and state. And
of wisdom is decision; for man should not accept whatsoever anyone sayeth.
"Under all circumstances desire of the True One (glorious is His glory)
that He will not deprive His servants of the sealed wine(22) and the
lights of the Name of the Self-Subsistent.
"O friends of God, verily the Pen of Sincerity enjoineth on you the
greatest faithfulness. By the Life of God, its light is more evident than
the light of the sun! In its light and its brightness and its radiance
every light is eclipsed. We desire of God that He will not withhold from
His cities and lands the radiant effulgence of the Sun of Faithfulness. We
have directed all in the nights and in the days to faithfulness, chastity,
purity, and constancy; and have enjoined good deeds and well-pleasing
qualities. In the nights and in the days the shriek of the pen ariseth and
the tongue speaketh, that against the sword the word may arise, and
against fierceness patience, and in place of oppression submission, and at
the time of martyrdom resignation. For thirty years and more, in all that
hath befallen this oppressed community they have been patient, referring
it to God. Everyone endowed with justice and fairness hath testified and
doth testify to that which hath been said. During this period this
Oppressed One was engaged in good exhortations and efficacious and
sufficient admonitions, till it became established and obvious before all
that this Victim had made Himself a target for the arrows of calamity unto
the showing forth of the treasures deposited in [men's] souls. Strife and
contest were and are seemly in the beasts of prey of the earth, [but]
laudable actions are seemly in man.
"Blessed is the Merciful One: Who created man: and taught him
utterance.(23) After all these troubles, neither are the ministers of
state content, nor the doctors of the church. Not one soul was found to
utter a word for God before the court of His Majesty the King (may God
perpetuate his kingdom). There shall not befall Us aught save that which
God hath decreed unto Us. They acted not kindly, nor was there any
shortcoming in the display of evil. Justice became like the phoenix, and
faithfulness like the philosopher's stone: none spake for the right. It
would seem that justice had become hateful to men and cast forth from all
lands like the people of God. Glory be to God! In the episode of the land
of Ta not one spoke for that which God had commanded. Having regard to the
display of power and parade of service in the presence of the King (may
God perpetuate his kingdom) they have called good evil and the reformer a
sedition-monger. The like of these persons would depict the drop as an
ocean, and the mote as a sun. They call the house at Kulayn 'the strong
fortress,' and close their eyes to the perspicuous truth. They have
attacked a number of reformers of the world with the charge of
seditiousness. As God liveth, these persons had and have no intent nor
hope save the glory of the state and service to their nation! For God they
spoke and for God they speak, and in the way of God do they journey.
"O friends, ask of Him Who is the Desire of the denizens of earth that He
will succor His Majesty the King (may God perpetuate his kingdom) so that
all the dominions of Persia may by the light of the Sun of Justice become
adorned with the decoration of tranquility and security. According to
statements made, he, at the promptings of his blessed nature, loosed those
who were in bonds, and bestowed freedom on the captives. The
representation of certain matters before the faces of [God's] servants is
obligatory, and natural to the pious, so that the good may be aware and
become cognizant [thereof]. Verily He inspireth whom He pleaseth with what
He desireth, and He is the Powerful, the Ordainer, the Knowing, the Wise.
"A word from that land hath reached the Oppressed One which in truth was
the cause of wonder. His Highness the Mu'tamidu'd-Dawlih, Farhad Mirza,
said concerning the Imprisoned One that whereof the repetition is not
pleasing. This Victim consorted very little with him or the like of him.
So far as is recollected on [only] two occasions did he visit
Mur_gh_-Mahallih in _Sh_imiran where was the abode of the Oppressed One.
On the first occasion he came one day in the afternoon, and on the second
one Friday morning, returning nigh unto sundown. He knows and is conscious
that he should not speak contrary to the truth. If one enter his presence
let him repeat these words before him on behalf of the Oppressed One: 'O
Prince! I ask justice and fairness from your Highness concerning that
which hath befallen this poor Victim.' Well is it for that soul whom the
doubts of the perverse withhold not from the display of justice, and
deprive not of the lights of the luminary of equity. O saints of God! at
the end of Our discourse We enjoin on you once again chastity,
faithfulness, godliness, sincerity, and purity. Lay aside the evil and
adopt the good. This is that whereunto ye are commanded in the Book of
God, the Knowing, the Wise. Well is it with those who practice [this
injunction]. At this moment the pen crieth out, saying, 'O saints of God,
regard the horizon of uprightness, and be quit, severed, and free from
what is beside this. There is no strength and no power save in God.'"
In short, formerly in all provinces in Persia accounts and stories
concerning this sect diverse and discordant, yea, incompatible with the
character of the human race and opposed to the divine endowment, passed on
the tongues and in the mouths of men and obtained notoriety. But when
their principles acquired fixity and stability and their conduct and
behavior were known and appreciated, the veil of doubt and suspicion fell,
the true character of this sect became clear and evident, and it reached
the degree of certainty that their principles were unlike men's fancies,
and that their foundation differed from [the popular] opinion and
estimate. In their conduct, action, morality, and demeanor was no place
for objection; the objection in Persia is to certain of the ideas and
tenets of this sect. And from the indications of various circumstances it
hath been observed that the people have acquired belief and confidence in
the trustworthiness, faithfulness, and godliness of this sect in all
transactions.
Let us return to our original topic. During the period of their sojourn in
'Iraq these persons became notorious throughout the world. For exile
resulted in fame, in such wise that a great number of other parties sought
alliance and union, and devised means of [acquiring] intimacy [with them].
But the Chief of this sect, discovering the aims of each faction, acted
with the utmost consistency, circumspection, and firmness. Reposing
confidence in none, He applied Himself as far as possible to the
admonition of each, inciting and urging them to good resolutions and aims
beneficial to the state and the nation. And this conduct and behavior of
the Chief acquired notoriety in 'Iraq.