flow in the oceans of these words. Methinks the seas of grandeur are
surging within them, and the gems of divine virtue are shining within and
upon them. Divest then thyself of that which debarreth thee from this
fathomless crimson sea, and to the cry of "In the name of God and by His
grace!" immerse thyself therein. Let the fear of no one dismay thee. Trust
in the Lord, thy God, for He is sufficient unto whosoever trusteth in Him.
He, verily, shall protect thee, and in Him shalt thou abide in safety.
84 Know thou, moreover, that in this most hallowed and resplendent city
thou shalt find the wayfarer to be lowly before all men and humble before
all things. For naught doth he behold save that he perceiveth God therein.
He beholdeth the effulgent glories of God in the lights of His Revelation
that have encompassed the Sinai of creation. In this station the wayfarer
must not claim the seat of honour in any gathering or walk before others
in the desire to vaunt and exalt himself. Rather must he regard himself as
standing at all times in the presence of his Lord. He must not wish for
anyone that which he doth not wish for himself, nor speak that which he
would not bear to hear spoken by another, nor yet desire for any soul that
which he would not have desired for himself. It befitteth him, rather, to
walk upon the earth with undeviating steps in the kingdom of His new
creation.
85 Know, however, that the seeker, at the outset of his journey,
witnesseth change and transformation, as hath already been mentioned. This
is undoubtedly the truth, as hath been revealed concerning those days: "On
the day when the earth shall be changed into another earth."(55) These are
indeed days the like of which no mortal eye hath ever seen. Blessed is he
that attaineth thereunto and realizeth their full worth. "We had sent
Moses with Our signs, saying unto him: 'Bring forth thy people from
darkness into light and remind them of the days of God.'"(56) And these
are in truth the days of God, could ye but know it.
86 In this station, all changing and varying realities are manifest before
thee. Whosoever denieth this truth hath verily turned aside from the Cause
of God, rebelled against His rule, and gainsaid His sovereignty. For it is
indeed within the power of Him Who changeth the earth into another earth
to transform all that dwell and move thereon. Wherefore marvel not at how
He turneth darkness into light, light into darkness, ignorance into
knowledge, error into guidance, death into life, and life into death. It
is in this station that the law of transformation taketh effect. Ponder
thereon, if thou be of them that tread this path, that all thou didst ask
of this owly One may be made plain unto thee and that thou mayest abide
within the tabernacle of this guidance. For He doeth whatsoever He willeth
and ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth. Nor shall He be asked of His doings,
whilst all men will be asked of their every deed.(57)
87 O My brother! In this stage, which marketh the beginning of the
journey, thou shalt behold divers stations and differing signs, even as
was mentioned in connection with the City of Search. All these hold true
in their respective planes. It behoveth thine eminence in this station to
consider each created thing in its own place, neither abasing nor exalting
its true rank. For instance, if thou wert to reduce the unseen world to
the realm of creation, this would be an act of sheer blasphemy, and the
converse would likewise be the essence of impiety. Wert thou, however, to
describe the unseen world and the realm of creation within their own
stations, this would be the undoubted truth. In other words, wert thou to
witness any transformation in the realm of the divine unity, no greater
sin could be conceived in all creation, but wert thou to consider
transformation in its own place and understand it accordingly, no harm
could befall thee.
88 By My Lord! Notwithstanding all that We have revealed unto thee of the
mysteries of utterance and the degrees of exposition, methinks I have
spoken not a single letter of the ocean of God's hidden knowledge and the
essence of His inscrutable wisdom. God willing, this We shall erelong
accomplish in its appointed time. He verily, remembereth all things in
their own place, and we, in truth, all yield praise unto Him.
89 Know thou, moreover, that the bird that taketh flight in the atmosphere
of the realm on high will never be able to soar unto the heaven of
transcendent holiness, nor taste of the fruits which God hath brought
forth therein, nor quaff from the streams which He hath caused to flow in
its midst. And were it to partake but a drop thereof, it would perish
forthwith. Even as thou dost witness in these days with regard to those
who profess allegiance unto Us, and yet perform such deeds, utter such
words, and advance such claims as they have. Methinks they lie as dead
within their own veils.
90 Comprehend, in like manner, every station, sign, and allusion, that
thou mayest perceive all things in their own place and consider all
matters in their proper light. For in this station, the City of Divine
Unity, are to be found those who have entered within the ark of divine
guidance and journeyed through the heights of divine unity. Thou shalt
behold the lights of beauty upon their faces and the mysteries of glory in
their human temples. Thou shalt perceive the musk-laden fragrance of their
words and behold the signs of His sovereignty in all their ways and
doings. Nor wilt thou be veiled by the deeds of them that have failed to
quaff from the crystal springs or to attain unto the cities of holiness,
and who follow their selfish desires and spread disorder in the land, all
the while believing themselves to be guided aright. It is indeed of them
that it hath been said: "These are the abject and foolish, who follow
every clamorous impostor and who bend with every changing wind."(58) The
stages of this journey, station, and abode are clear and manifest to thee
and require no further explanation.
91 Know then that all thou hast heard and witnessed that Daystar of Truth,
the Primal Point, ascribe to Himself from the designations of former times
is only on account of the weakness of men and the scheme of the world of
creation. Otherwise, all names and attributes revolve round His Essence
and circle about the threshold of His sanctuary. For He it is Who traineth
all names, revealeth all attributes, conferreth life upon all beings,
proclaimeth the divine verses, and arrayeth the heavenly signs. Nay,
shouldst thou gaze with thine inner eye, thou wouldst find that all save
Him fade into utter nothingness and are as a thing forgotten in His holy
presence. "God was alone; there was none else besides Him. He remaineth
now what He hath ever been." Since it hath been established that
God--hallowed and glorified be He!--was alone and there was none besides
Him, how can the law of change and transformation apply here? Shouldst
thou reflect upon that which We have disclosed unto thee, the daystar of
guidance would shine resplendent before thee in this everlasting morn, and
thou wouldst be numbered therein with the pious.
92 Know, moreover, that all that We have mentioned concerning these
journeys is intended for none but the elect amongst the righteous. And
shouldst thou spur on the charger of the spirit and traverse the meads of
heaven, thou wouldst complete all these journeys and discover every
mystery in less than the twinkling of an eye.
93 O My brother! If thou be a champion of this arena, speed within the
lands of certitude, that thy soul may be delivered in this day from the
bondage of misbelief, and that thou mayest perceive the sweet savours that
waft from this garden. Verily, the perfume-laden breezes that carry the
fragrance of this city blow over all regions. Forfeit not thy portion
thereof and be not of the heedless. How well hath it been said:
94
His fragrant breaths diffused in Eastern lands could well
To sick ones in the West restore their sense of smell!(59)
95 After this heavenly journey and mystical ascent the wayfarer will enter
within the Garden of Wonderment. Were I to disclose unto thee the reality
of this station, thou wouldst lament and bewail the plight of this Servant
Who remaineth in the hands of these infidels, Who hath grown perplexed at
his plight, and is lost in bewilderment in this fathomless ocean. They
conspire each day to put Me to death, and seek at every hour to banish Me
from this land, even as they banished Me from another land. Yet this
Servant standeth ready before them, awaiting whatsoever the Almighty hath
ordained and decreed for Us. Nor do I fear any soul, encompassed as We may
be by such trials and tribulations as are inflicted by the wicked and the
malicious and surrounded at this hour by a myriad woes and sorrows.
"Noah's flood is but the measure of the tears I have shed, and Abraham's
fire an ebullition of My soul. Jacob's grief is but a reflection of My
sorrows, and Job's afflictions a fraction of My calamity."(60)
96 Were I to recount unto thine eminence the dire adversities that have
befallen Me, thou wouldst be so grieved as to forsake the mention of all
things and to forget thyself and all that the Lord hath created on earth.
But as this is not Our wish, I have concealed the revelation of the divine
decree in the heart of Baha and veiled it from the eyes of all that move
in the realm of creation, that it may lay hid within the tabernacle of the
Unseen until such time as God will have revealed its secret. "Naught in
the heavens or on the earth can escape His knowledge, and He, verily,
perceiveth all things."(61)
97 As We have digressed from Our theme, let Us leave aside these allusions
and return to Our discussion of this city. Verily, whoso entereth therein
shall be saved, and whoso turneth aside therefrom will assuredly perish.
98 O thou who art mentioned in these Tablets! Know thou that he who
embarketh upon this journey will marvel at the signs of the power of God
and the wondrous evidences of His handiwork. Bewilderment will seize him
from every side, even as hath been attested by that Essence of immortality
from the Concourse on high: "Increase My wonder and amazement at Thee, O
God!"(62) Well hath it been said:
99
I knew not what amazement was
Until I made Thy love my cause.
O how amazing would it be
If I were not amazed by Thee!(63)
100 In this valley the wayfarers stray and perish ere they attain their
final abode. Gracious God! So immense is this valley, so vast this city in
the kingdom of creation, that it seemeth to have neither beginning nor
end. How great the blessedness of him who completeth his journey therein
and who traverseth, through the assistance of God, the hallowed soil of
this heavenly city, a city in which the favoured ones of God and the pure
in heart are overcome with wonder and awe. And We say: "Praise be to God,
the Lord of the worlds."
101 And should the servant ascend to even loftier heights, quit this
mortal world of dust, and seek to ascend unto the celestial abode, he will
then pass from this city into the City of Absolute Nothingness, that is,
of dying to self and living in God. In this station, this most exalted
habitation, this journey of utter self-effacement, the wayfarer forgetteth
his soul, spirit, body, and very being, immerseth himself in the sea of
nothingness, and liveth on earth as one unworthy of mention. Nor will one
find any sign of his existence, for he hath vanished from the realm of the
visible and attained unto the heights of self-abnegation.
102 Were We to recount the mysteries of this city, the dominions of the
hearts of men would be laid to waste in the intensity of their longing for
this mighty station. For this is the station wherein the effulgent glories
of the Beloved are revealed to the sincere lover and the resplendent
lights of the Friend are cast upon the severed heart that is devoted to
Him.
103 How can a true lover continue to exist when once the effulgent glories
of the Beloved are revealed? How can the shadow endure when once the sun
hath shone forth? How can a devoted heart have any being before the
existence of the Object of its devotion? Nay, by the One in Whose hand is
my soul! In this station, the seeker's complete surrender and utter
effacement before his Creator will be such that, were he to search the
East and the West, and traverse land, sea, mountain and plain, he would
find no trace of his own self or of any other soul.
104 Gracious God! But for fear of the Nimrod of tyranny and for the
protection of the Abraham of justice, I would reveal unto thee that which,
wert thou to abandon self and desire, would enable thee to dispense with
aught else and to draw nigh unto this city. Be patient, however, until
such time as God will have proclaimed His Cause. He, verily, rewardeth
beyond measure them that endure with patience.(64) Inhale then the sweet
savours of the spirit from the garment of hidden meanings, and say: "O ye
that are immersed in the ocean of selflessness! Hasten to enter the City
of Immortality, if ye seek to ascend its heights." And We exclaim: "Verily
we are God's, and to Him shall we return."(65)
105 From this most august and exalted station, and from this most sublime
and glorious plane, the seeker entereth the City of Immortality, therein
to abide forever. In this station he beholdeth himself established upon
the throne of independence and the seat of exaltation. Then will he
comprehend the meaning of that which hath been revealed of old concerning
the day "whereon God shall enrich all through His abundance".(66) Well is
it with them that have attained unto this station and drunk their fill
from this snow-white chalice before this Crimson Pillar.
106 Having, in this journey, immersed himself in the ocean of immortality,
rid his heart from attachment to aught save Him, and attained unto the
loftiest heights of everlasting life, the seeker will see no annihilation
either for himself or for any other soul. He will quaff from the cup of
immortality, tread in its land, soar in its atmosphere, consort with them
that are its embodiments, partake of the imperishable and incorruptible
fruits of the tree of eternity, and be forever accounted, in the lofty
heights of immortality, amongst the denizens of the everlasting realm.
107 All that existeth in this city shall indeed endure and will never
perish. Shouldst thou, by the leave of God, enter this sublime and exalted
garden, thou wouldst find its sun in its noontide glory, never to set,
never to be eclipsed. The same holdeth true of its moon, its firmament,
its stars, trees, and oceans, and of all that pertaineth thereunto or
existeth therein. By Him besides Whom there is none other God! Were I to
recount, from this day unto the end that hath no end, its wondrous
attributes, the love that My heart cherisheth for this hallowed and
everlasting city would never be exhausted. I shall, however, bring My
theme to a close, since time is short and the inquirer impatient, and
since these secrets are not to be openly divulged save by the leave of
God, the Almighty, the All-Compelling.
108 Erelong shall the faithful behold, in the day of the latter
Resurrection, Him Whom God shall make manifest descending with this city
from the heaven of the Unseen, together with a company of His exalted and
favoured angels. Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him that
attaineth unto His presence and beholdeth His countenance. We all, verily,
cherish this hope, and exclaim: "Praise be unto Him, for verily He is the
Eternal Truth, and unto Him do we return!"
109 Know, moreover, that should one who hath attained unto these stations
and embarked upon these journeys fall prey to pride and vainglory, he
would at that very moment come to naught and return to the first step
without realizing it. Indeed, they that seek and yearn after Him in these
journeys are known by this sign, that they humbly defer to those who have
believed in God and in His verses, that they are lowly before those who
have drawn nigh unto Him and unto the Manifestations of His Beauty, and
that they bow in submission to them that are firmly established upon the
lofty heights of the Cause of God and before its majesty.
110 For were they to reach the ultimate object of their quest for God and
their attainment unto Him, they would have but reached that abode which
hath been raised up within their own hearts. How then could they ever hope
to ascend unto such realms as have not been ordained for them or created
for their station? Nay, though they journey from everlasting to
everlasting, they will never attain unto Him Who is the midmost Heart of
existence and the Axis of the entire creation, He on Whose right hand flow
the seas of grandeur, on Whose left stream the rivers of might, and Whose
court none can ever hope to reach, how much less His very abode! For He
dwelleth in the ark of fire, speedeth, in the sphere of fire, through the
ocean of fire, and moveth within the atmosphere of fire. How can he who
hath been fashioned of contrary elements ever enter or even approach this
fire? Were he to do so, he would be instantly consumed.
111 Know, moreover, that should the cord of assistance binding this mighty
Pivot to the dwellers of earth and heaven be severed, they would all
assuredly perish. Great God! How can the lowly dust ever reach unto Him
Who is the Lord of lords? Immeasurably exalted is God above that which
they conceive in their hearts, and immensely glorified is He beyond that
which they attribute to Him.
112 Yea, the seeker reacheth a station wherein that which hath been
ordained for him knoweth no bounds. The fire of love so blazeth in his
heart that it seizeth the reins of constraint from his grasp. At every
moment his love for his Lord increaseth and draweth him nearer unto his
Creator, in such wise that if his Lord be in the east of nearness, and he
dwell in the west of remoteness and possess all that earth and heaven
contain of rubies and gold, he would forsake it all and rush forth to the
land of the Desired One. And shouldst thou find him to be otherwise, know
assuredly that such a man is a lying impostor. We, verily, all belong unto
Him Whom God shall make manifest in the latter Resurrection, and through
Him shall we be raised again to life.
113 In these days, inasmuch as We have lifted not the veils that conceal
the countenance of the Cause of God, nor disclosed unto men the fruits of
these stations which We have been forbidden to describe, thou beholdest
them drunk with heedlessness. Otherwise, were the glory of this station to
be revealed unto men to an extent smaller than a needle's eye, thou
wouldst witness them gathering before the threshold of divine mercy and
hastening from all sides to the court of nearness in the realms of divine
glory. We have concealed it, however, as mentioned before, that those who
believe may be distinguished from them that deny, and that those who turn
unto God may be discerned from them that turn aside. I verily proclaim:
"There is no power nor strength except in God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting."
114 From this station the wayfarer ascendeth unto a City that hath no name
or description, and whereof one heareth neither sound nor mention. Therein
flow the oceans of eternity, whilst this city itself revolveth round the
seat of eternity. Therein the sun of the Unseen shineth resplendent above
the horizon of the Unseen, a sun that hath its own heavens and its own
moons, which partake of its light and which rise from and set upon the
ocean of the Unseen. Nor can I ever hope to impart even a dewdrop of that
which hath been decreed therein, as none is acquainted with its mysteries
save God, its Creator and Fashioner, and His Manifestations.
115 Know, moreover, that when We undertook to reveal these words and
committed some of them to writing, it was Our intention to elucidate for
thine eminence, in the sweet accents of the blessed and the well-favoured
of God, all that We had previously mentioned of the words of the Prophets
and the sayings of the Messengers. Time, however, was lacking, and the
traveller who came from thy presence was in great haste and eager to
return. Thus have We cut short Our discourse and contented Ourself with
this much, without completing the description of these stages in a seemly
and befitting manner. Indeed, We have omitted the description of major
cities and mighty journeys. Such was the haste of the courier that We even
forsook the mention of the two exalted journeys of Resignation and
Contentment.
116 Yet, should thine eminence reflect upon these brief statements, thou
wouldst assuredly acquire every knowledge, attain unto the Object of all
learning, and exclaim: "Sufficient are these words unto all creation both
visible and invisible!"
117 Even so, should the fire of love burn within thy soul, thou wouldst
ask: "Is there yet any more?" (67) And We say: "Praise be to God, the Lord
of the worlds!"
FOOTNOTES
1 Shoghi Effendi, _God Passes By_ (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust,
1974), p. 110.
2 Baha'u'llah, _The Kitab-i-Iqan _(Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust,
1994), p. 26.
3 cf. Qur'an 67:3.
4 cf. Qur'an 24:35.
5 Matt. 24:19.
6 cf. Matt. 24:29-31.
7 Mark 13:19.
8 cf. Luke 21:25-28.
9 John 15:26-27.
10 John 14:26.
11 John 16:5-6.
12 John 16:7.
13 John 16:13.
14 The Imams of _Sh_i'ih Islam.
15 Jesus.
16 cf. Matt. 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33.
17 The Antichrist, who it was believed would appear at the advent of
the Promised One, to contend with and be ultimately defeated by Him.
18 Another figure who it was believed would raise the banner of
rebellion between Mecca and Damascus at the appearance of the
Promised One.
19 Qur'an 16:43.
20 A magician in the court of Pharaoh during the time of Moses.
21 Qur'an 83:6; 2:89.
22 The Imams of _Sh_i'ih Islam.
23 Qur'an 29:2.
24 Qur'an 2:156.
25 Qur'an 29:69.
26 Qur'an 2:282.
27 From a Hadi_th_.
28 ibid.
29 Qur'an 30:30.
30 Qur'an 48:23.
31 Qur'an 67:3.
32 Qur'an 17:110.
33 Qur'an 57:3.
34 The twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, the son of Hasan al-'Askari.
35 According to _Sh_i'ih traditions, the twin cities of Jabulqa and
Jabulsa are the dwelling place of the Hidden Imam (the Promised
One), whence He will appear on the Day of Resurrection.
36 Muhammad.
37 Qur'an 33:40.
38 Qur'an 13:2.
39 Qur'an 74:50.
40 cf. Qur'an 13:5.
41 Qur'an 11:7.
42 Qur'an 3:185.
43 Qur'an 16:97.
44 Qur'an 3:169.
45 From a Hadi_th_.
46 Qur'an 7:179.
47 cf. Qur'an 9:109; 3:103.
48 Qur'an 6:122.
49 John 3:5-7.
50 cf. Rev. 1:14-16; 2:18; 19:15.
51 cf. Qur'an 80:41; 83:24.
52 Qur'an 11:112.
53 cf. Luke 12:53.
54 cf. Qur'an 1:4.
55 Qur'an 14:48.
56 Qur'an 14:5.
57 cf. Qur'an 21:23.
58 From a saying of Imam 'Ali.
59 From the _Divan _of Ibn-i-Farid.
60 ibid.
61 cf. Qur'an 10:61; 34:3.
62 From a Hadi_th_.
63 From the _Divan _of Ibn-i-Farid.
64 cf. Qur'an 39:10.
65 Qur'an 2:156.
66 Qur'an 4:130.
67 cf. Qur'an 50:30.