Make thou mention of this Day and magnify that which hath appeared
therein. It will in truth suffice all mankind. Indeed expositions and
discourses in explanation of such things cause the spirits to be chilled.
It behoveth thee to speak forth in such wise as to set the hearts of true
believers ablaze and cause their bodies to soar.
Whoso firmly believeth today in the rebirth of man and is fully conscious
that God, the Most Exalted, wieldeth supreme ascendancy and absolute
authority over this new creation, verily such a man is reckoned with them
that are endued with insight in this most great Revelation. Unto this
beareth witness every discerning believer.
Walk thou high above the world of being through the power of the Most
Great Name, that thou mayest become aware of the immemorial mysteries and
be acquainted with that wherewith no one is acquainted. Verily, thy Lord
is the Helper, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Be thou as a throbbing
artery, pulsating in the body of the entire creation, that through the
heat generated by this motion there may appear that which will quicken the
hearts of those who hesitate.
At the time when We were hidden behind countless veils of light thou didst
commune with Me and didst witness the luminaries of the heaven of My
wisdom and the billows of the ocean of Mine utterance. Verily thy Lord is
the Truthful, the Faithful. Great indeed is the blessedness of him who
hath attained the liberal effusions of this ocean in the days of his Lord,
the Most Bountiful, the All-Wise.
During Our sojourn in 'Iraq when We were at the house of one named Majid,
We set forth clearly for thee the mysteries of creation and the origin,
the culmination and the cause thereof. However since Our departure We have
limited Ourself to this affirmation: 'Verily, no God is there but Me, the
Ever-Forgiving, the Bountiful.'
Teach thou the Cause of God with an utterance which will cause the bushes
to be enkindled, and the call 'Verily, there is no God but Me, the
Almighty, the Unconstrained' to be raised therefrom. Say: Human utterance
is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth
moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which
in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its
moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in
the Holy Scriptures and Tablets. Meditate upon that which hath streamed
forth from the heaven of the Will of thy Lord, He Who is the Source of all
grace, that thou mayest grasp the intended meaning which is enshrined in
the sacred depths of the Holy Writings.
Those who have rejected God and firmly cling to Nature as it is in itself
are, verily, bereft of knowledge and wisdom. They are truly of them that
are far astray. They have failed to attain the lofty summit and have
fallen short of the ultimate purpose; therefore their eyes were shut and
their thoughts differed, while the leaders among them have believed in God
and in His invincible sovereignty. Unto this beareth witness thy Lord, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
When the eyes of the people of the East were captivated by the arts and
wonders of the West, they roved distraught in the wilderness of material
causes, oblivious of the One Who is the Causer of Causes, and the
Sustainer thereof, while such men as were the source and the wellspring of
Wisdom never denied the moving Impulse behind these causes, nor the
Creator or the Origin thereof. Thy Lord knoweth, yet most of the people
know not.
Now We have, for the sake of God, the Lord of Names, set Ourself the task
of mentioning in this Tablet some accounts of the sages,(52) that the eyes
of the people may be opened thereby and that they may become fully assured
that He is in truth the Maker, the Omnipotent, the Creator, the
Originator, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Although it is recognized that the contemporary men of learning are highly
qualified in philosophy, arts and crafts, yet were anyone to observe with
a discriminating eye he would readily comprehend that most of this
knowledge hath been acquired from the sages of the past, for it is they
who have laid the foundation of philosophy, reared its structure and
reinforced its pillars. Thus doth thy Lord, the Ancient of Days, inform
thee. The sages aforetime acquired their knowledge from the Prophets,
inasmuch as the latter were the Exponents of divine philosophy and the
Revealers of heavenly mysteries. Men quaffed the crystal, living waters of
Their utterance, while others satisfied themselves with the dregs.
Everyone receiveth a portion according to his measure. Verily He is the
Equitable, the Wise.
Empedocles, who distinguished himself in philosophy, was a contemporary of
David, while Pythagoras lived in the days of Solomon, son of David, and
acquired Wisdom from the treasury of prophethood. It is he who claimed to
have heard the whispering sound of the heavens and to have attained the
station of the angels. In truth thy Lord will clearly set forth all
things, if He pleaseth. Verily, He is the Wise, the All-Pervading.
The essence and the fundamentals of philosophy have emanated from the
Prophets. That the people differ concerning the inner meanings and
mysteries thereof is to be attributed to the divergence of their views and
minds. We would fain recount to thee the following: One of the Prophets
once was communicating to his people that with which the Omnipotent Lord
had inspired Him. Truly, thy Lord is the Inspirer, the Gracious, the
Exalted. When the fountain of wisdom and eloquence gushed forth from the
wellspring of His utterance and the wine of divine knowledge inebriated
those who had sought His threshold, He exclaimed: 'Lo! All are filled with
the Spirit.' From among the people there was he who held fast unto this
statement and, actuated by his own fancies, conceived the idea that the
spirit literally penetrateth or entereth into the body, and through
lengthy expositions he advanced proofs to vindicate this concept; and
groups of people followed in his footsteps. To mention their names at this
point, or to give thee a detailed account thereof, would lead to
prolixity, and would depart from the main theme. Verily, thy Lord is the
All-Wise, the All-Knowing. There was also he who partook of the choice
wine whose seal had been removed by the Key of the Tongue of Him Who is
the Revealer of the Verses of thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Generous.
Verily, the philosophers have not denied the Ancient of Days. Most of them
passed away deploring their failure to fathom His mystery, even as some of
them have testified. Verily, thy Lord is the Adviser, the All-Informed.
Consider Hippocrates, the physician. He was one of the eminent
philosophers who believed in God and acknowledged His sovereignty. After
him came Socrates who was indeed wise, accomplished and righteous. He
practised self-denial, repressed his appetites for selfish desires and
turned away from material pleasures. He withdrew to the mountains where he
dwelt in a cave. He dissuaded men from worshipping idols and taught them
the way of God, the Lord of Mercy, until the ignorant rose up against him.
They arrested him and put him to death in prison. Thus relateth to thee
this swift-moving Pen. What a penetrating vision into philosophy this
eminent man had! He is the most distinguished of all philosophers and was
highly versed in wisdom. We testify that he is one of the heroes in this
field and an outstanding champion dedicated unto it. He had a profound
knowledge of such sciences as were current amongst men as well as of those
which were veiled from their minds. Methinks he drank one draught when the
Most Great Ocean overflowed with gleaming and life-giving waters. He it is
who perceived a unique, a tempered, and a pervasive nature in things,
bearing the closest likeness to the human spirit, and he discovered this
nature to be distinct from the substance of things in their refined form.
He hath a special pronouncement on this weighty theme. Wert thou to ask
from the worldly wise of this generation about this exposition, thou
wouldst witness their incapacity to grasp it. Verily, thy Lord speaketh
the truth but most people comprehend not.
After Socrates came the divine Plato who was a pupil of the former and
occupied the chair of philosophy as his successor. He acknowledged his
belief in God and in His signs which pervade all that hath been and shall
be. Then came Aristotle, the well-known man of knowledge. He it is who
discovered the power of gaseous matter. These men who stand out as leaders
of the people and are pre-eminent among them, one and all acknowledged
their belief in the immortal Being Who holdeth in His grasp the reins of
all sciences.
I will also mention for thee the invocation voiced by Balinus who was
familiar with the theories put forward by the Father of Philosophy
regarding the mysteries of creation as given in his chrysolite tablets,
that everyone may be fully assured of the things We have elucidated for
thee in this manifest Tablet, which, if pressed with the hand of fairness
and knowledge, will yield the spirit of life for the quickening of all
created things. Great is the blessedness of him who swimmeth in this ocean
and celebrateth the praise of his Lord, the Gracious, the Best-Beloved.
Indeed the breezes of divine revelation are diffused from the verses of
thy Lord in such wise that no one can dispute its truth, except those who
are bereft of hearing, of vision, of understanding and of every human
faculty. Verily thy Lord beareth witness unto this, yet the people
understand not.
This man hath said: 'I am Balinus, the wise one, the performer of wonders,
the producer of talismans.' He surpassed everyone else in the diffusion of
arts and sciences and soared unto the loftiest heights of humility and
supplication. Give ear unto that which he hath said, entreating the
All-Possessing, the Most Exalted: 'I stand in the presence of my Lord,
extolling His gifts and bounties and praising Him with that wherewith He
praiseth His Own Self, that I may become a source of blessing and guidance
unto such men as acknowledge my words.' And further he saith: 'O Lord!
Thou art God and no God is there but Thee. Thou art the Creator and no
creator is there except Thee. Assist me by Thy grace and strengthen me. My
heart is seized with alarm, my limbs tremble, I have lost my reason and my
mind hath failed me. Bestow upon me strength and enable my tongue to speak
forth with wisdom.' And still further he saith: 'Thou art in truth the
Knowing, the Wise, the Powerful, the Compassionate.' It was this man of
wisdom who became informed of the mysteries of creation and discerned the
subtleties which lie enshrined in the Hermetic writings.(53)
We have no wish to mention anything further but We shall utter that which
the Spirit hath instilled into My heart. In truth there is no God but Him,
the Knowing, the Mighty, the Help in Peril, the Most Excellent, the
All-Praised. By My life! In this Day the celestial Tree is loath to
proclaim aught else to the world but this affirmation: 'Verily, there is
none other God but Me, the Peerless, the All-Informed.'
Had it not been for the love I cherish for thee, I would not have uttered
a single word of what hath been mentioned. Appreciate the value of this
station and preserve it as thou wouldst thine eye and be of them that are
truly thankful.
Thou knowest full well that We perused not the books which men possess and
We acquired not the learning current amongst them, and yet whenever We
desire to quote the sayings of the learned and of the wise,(54) presently
there will appear before the face of thy Lord in the form of a tablet all
that which hath appeared in the world and is revealed in the Holy Books
and Scriptures. Thus do We set down in writing that which the eye
perceiveth. Verily His knowledge encompasseth the earth and the heavens.
This is a Tablet wherein the Pen of the Unseen hath inscribed the
knowledge of all that hath been and shall be--a knowledge that none other
but My wondrous Tongue can interpret. Indeed My heart as it is in itself
hath been purged by God from the concepts of the learned and is sanctified
from the utterances of the wise. In truth naught doth it mirror forth but
the revelations of God. Unto this beareth witness the Tongue of Grandeur
in this perspicuous Book.
Say, O people of the earth! Beware lest any reference to wisdom debar you
from its Source or withhold you from the Dawning-Place thereof. Fix your
hearts upon your Lord, the Educator, the All-Wise.
For every land We have prescribed a portion, for every occasion an
allotted share, for every pronouncement an appointed time and for every
situation an apt remark. Consider Greece. We made it a Seat of Wisdom for
a prolonged period. However, when the appointed hour struck, its throne
was subverted, its tongue ceased to speak, its light grew dim and its
banner was hauled down. Thus do We bestow and withdraw. Verily thy Lord is
He Who giveth and divesteth, the Mighty, the Powerful.
In every land We have set up a luminary of knowledge, and when the time
foreordained is at hand, it will shine resplendent above its horizon, as
decreed by God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. If it be Our Will We are
fully capable of describing for thee whatever existeth in every land or
hath come to pass therein. Indeed the knowledge of thy Lord pervadeth the
heavens and the earth.
Know thou, moreover, that the people aforetime have produced things which
the contemporary men of knowledge have been unable to produce. We recall
unto thee Murtus who was one of the learned. He invented an apparatus
which transmitted sound over a distance of sixty miles. Others besides him
have also discovered things which no one in this age hath beheld. Verily
thy Lord revealeth in every epoch whatsoever He pleaseth as a token of
wisdom on His part. He is in truth the supreme Ordainer, the All-Wise.
A true philosopher would never deny God nor His evidences, rather would he
acknowledge His glory and overpowering majesty which overshadow all
created things. Verily We love those men of knowledge who have brought to
light such things as promote the best interests of humanity, and We aided
them through the potency of Our behest, for well are We able to achieve
Our purpose.
Beware, O My loved ones, lest ye despise the merits of My learned servants
whom God hath graciously chosen to be the exponents of His Name 'the
Fashioner' amidst mankind. Exert your utmost endeavour that ye may develop
such crafts and undertakings that everyone, whether young or old, may
benefit therefrom. We are quit of those ignorant ones who fondly imagine
that Wisdom is to give vent to one's idle imaginings and to repudiate God,
the Lord of all men; even as We hear some of the heedless voicing such
assertions today.
Say: The beginning of Wisdom and the origin thereof is to acknowledge
whatsoever God hath clearly set forth, for through its potency the
foundation of statesmanship, which is a shield for the preservation of the
body of mankind, hath been firmly established. Ponder a while that ye may
perceive what My most exalted Pen hath proclaimed in this wondrous Tablet.
Say, every matter related to state affairs which ye raise for discussion
falls under the shadow of one of the words sent down from the heaven of
His glorious and exalted utterance. Thus have We recounted unto thee that
which will exhilarate thy heart, will bring solace to thine eyes and will
enable thee to arise for the promotion of His Cause amidst all peoples.
O My Nabil! Let nothing grieve thee, rather rejoice with exceeding
gladness inasmuch as I have mentioned thy name, have turned My heart and
My face towards thee and have conversed with thee through this irrefutable
and weighty exposition. Ponder in thy heart upon the tribulations I have
sustained, the imprisonment and the captivity I have endured, the
sufferings that have befallen Me and the accusations that the people have
levelled against Me. Behold, they are truly wrapped in a grievous veil.
When the discourse reached this stage, the dawn of divine mysteries
appeared and the light of utterance was quenched. May His glory rest upon
the people of wisdom as bidden by One Who is the Almighty, the
All-Praised.
Say: Magnified be Thy Name, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name
through which the splendour of the light of wisdom shone resplendent when
the heavens of divine utterance were set in motion amidst mankind, to
graciously aid me by Thy heavenly confirmations and enable me to extol Thy
Name amongst Thy servants.
O Lord! Unto Thee have I turned my face, detached from all save Thee and
holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy manifold blessings. Unloose my
tongue therefore to proclaim that which will captivate the minds of men
and will rejoice their souls and spirits. Strengthen me then in Thy Cause
in such wise that I may not be hindered by the ascendancy of the
oppressors among Thy creatures nor withheld by the onslaught of the
disbelievers amidst those who dwell in Thy realm. Make me as a lamp
shining throughout Thy lands that those in whose hearts the light of Thy
knowledge gloweth and the yearning for Thy love lingereth may be guided by
its radiance.
Verily, potent art Thou to do whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp
Thou holdest the kingdom of creation. There is none other God but Thee,
the Almighty, the All-Wise.
ASL-I-KULLU'L-KHAYR (WORDS OF WISDOM)
In the Name of God, the Exalted, the Most High
THE source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and
contentment with His holy will and pleasure.
The essence of wisdom is the fear of God, the dread of His scourge and
punishment, and the apprehension of His justice and decree.
The essence of religion is to testify unto that which the Lord hath
revealed, and follow that which He hath ordained in His mighty Book.
The source of all glory is acceptance of whatsoever the Lord hath
bestowed, and contentment with that which God hath ordained.
The essence of love is for man to turn his heart to the Beloved One, and
sever himself from all else but Him, and desire naught save that which is
the desire of his Lord.
True remembrance is to make mention of the Lord, the All-Praised, and
forget aught else beside Him.
True reliance is for the servant to pursue his profession and calling in
this world, to hold fast unto the Lord, to seek naught but His grace,
inasmuch as in His Hands is the destiny of all His servants.
The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts
of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as
witness before Him.
The essence of understanding is to testify to one's poverty, and submit to
the Will of the Lord, the Sovereign, the Gracious, the All-Powerful.
The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and
steadfastness in His Love.
The essence of charity is for the servant to recount the blessings of his
Lord, and to render thanks unto Him at all times and under all conditions.
The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose
words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.
The essence of true safety is to observe silence, to look at the end of
things and to renounce the world.
The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself,
on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith.
The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of
all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy.
This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendour hath revealed.
The source of all evil is for man to turn away from his Lord and set his
heart on things ungodly.
The most burning fire is to question the signs of God, to dispute idly
that which He hath revealed, to deny Him and carry one's self proudly
before Him.
The source of all learning is the knowledge of God, exalted be His Glory,
and this cannot be attained save through the knowledge of His Divine
Manifestation.
The essence of abasement is to pass out from under the shadow of the
Merciful and seek the shelter of the Evil One.
The source of error is to disbelieve in the One true God, rely upon aught
else but Him, and flee from His Decree.
True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his
self.
The essence of all that We have revealed for thee is Justice, is for man
to free himself from idle fancy and imitation, discern with the eye of
oneness His glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching
eye.
Thus have We instructed thee, manifested unto thee Words of Wisdom, that
thou mayest be thankful unto the Lord, thy God, and glory therein amidst
all peoples.
LAWH-I-MAQSUD (TABLET OF MAQSUD)
_Out of respect, the Baha'is, rather than addressing Baha'u'llah
directly, would write to His amanuensis, Mirza Aqa Jan, surnamed
'Servant of God' and 'Servant-in-Attendance'. The reply would be
in the form of a letter from Mirza Aqa Jan quoting words of
Baha'u'llah, but would, in fact, be dictated in its entirety by
Baha'u'llah. Thus all parts of the Tablet, even those which
ostensibly are the words of Mirza Aqa Jan himself, are Sacred
Scripture revealed by Baha'u'llah. The Tablet of Maqsud is in this
form. It was addressed to Mirza Maqsud, one of the early believers
living at that time in Damascus and Jerusalem._
He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of Majesty and Power
A PRAISE which is exalted above every mention or description beseemeth the
Adored One, the Possessor of all things visible and invisible, Who hath
enabled the Primal Point to reveal countless Books and Epistles and Who,
through the potency of His sublime Word, hath called into being the entire
creation, whether of the former or more recent generations. Moreover He
hath in every age and cycle, in conformity with His transcendent wisdom,
sent forth a divine Messenger to revive the dispirited and despondent
souls with the living waters of His utterance, One Who is indeed the
Expounder, the true Interpreter, inasmuch as man is unable to comprehend
that which hath streamed forth from the Pen of Glory and is recorded in
His heavenly Books. Men at all times and under all conditions stand in
need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them.
Therefore He hath sent forth His Messengers, His Prophets and chosen ones
that they might acquaint the people with the divine purpose underlying the
revelation of Books and the raising up of Messengers, and that everyone
may become aware of the trust of God which is latent in the reality of
every soul.
Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however,
deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word
proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word
more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet
another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being
saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education
can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to
benefit therefrom. If any man were to meditate on that which the
Scriptures, sent down from the heaven of God's holy Will, have revealed,
he would readily recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be
regarded as one soul, so that the seal bearing the words 'The Kingdom
shall be God's' may be stamped on every heart, and the light of Divine
bounty, of grace, and mercy may envelop all mankind. The One true God,
exalted be His glory, hath wished nothing for Himself. The allegiance of
mankind profiteth Him not, neither doth its perversity harm Him. The Bird
of the Realm of Utterance voiceth continually this call: 'All things have
I willed for thee, and thee, too, for thine own sake.' If the learned and
worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance
of fellowship and love, every understanding heart would apprehend the
meaning of true liberty, and discover the secret of undisturbed peace and
absolute composure. Were the earth to attain this station and be illumined
with its light it could then be truly said of it: 'Thou shall see in it no
hollows or rising hills.'(55)