My father made arrangements in Tihran for the marriage of one of My older
brothers, and as is customary in that city, the festivities lasted for
seven days and seven nights. On the last day it was announced that the
play "Shah Sultan Salim" would be presented. A large number of princes,
dignitaries, and notables of the capital gathered for the occasion. I was
sitting in one of the upper rooms of the building and observing the scene.
Presently a tent was pitched in the courtyard, and before long some small
human-like figures, each appearing to be no more than about a hand's span
in height, were seen to emerge from it and raise the call: "His Majesty is
coming! Arrange the seats at once!" Other figures then came forth, some of
whom were seen to be engaged in sweeping, others in sprinkling water, and
thereafter another, who was announced as the chief town crier, raised his
call and bade the people assemble for an audience with the king. Next,
several groups of figures made their appearance and took their places, the
first attired in hats and sashes after the Persian fashion, the second
wielding battleaxes, and the third comprising a number of footmen and
executioners carrying bastinados. Finally there appeared, arrayed in regal
majesty and crowned with a royal diadem, a kingly figure, bearing himself
with the utmost haughtiness and grandeur, at turns advancing and pausing
in his progress, who proceeded with great solemnity, poise and dignity to
seat himself upon his throne.
12 At that moment a volley of shots was fired, a fanfare of trumpets was
sounded, and king and tent were enveloped in a pall of smoke. When it had
cleared, the king, ensconced upon his throne, was seen surrounded by a
suite of ministers, princes, and dignitaries of state who, having taken
their places, were standing at attention in his presence. A captured thief
was then brought before the king, who gave the order that the offender
should be beheaded. Without a moment's delay the chief executioner cut off
the thief's head, whence a blood-like liquid came forth. After this the
king held audience with his court, during which intelligence was received
that a rebellion had broken out on a certain frontier. Thereupon the king
reviewed his troops and despatched several regiments supported by
artillery to quell the uprising. A few moments later cannons were heard
booming from behind the tent, and it was announced that a battle had been
engaged.
13 This Youth regarded the scene with great amazement. When the royal
audience was ended, the curtain was drawn, and, after some twenty minutes,
a man emerged from behind the tent carrying a box under his arm.
14 "What is this box," I asked him, "and what was the nature of this
display?"
15 "All this lavish display and these elaborate devices," he replied, "the
king, the princes, and the ministers, their pomp and glory, their might
and power, everything you saw, are now contained within this box."
16 I swear by My Lord Who, through a single word of His Mouth, hath
brought into being all created things! Ever since that day, all the
trappings of the world have seemed in the eyes of this Youth akin to that
same spectacle. They have never been, nor will they ever be, of any weight
and consequence, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. How
greatly I marvelled that men should pride themselves upon such vanities,
whilst those possessed of insight, ere they witness any evidence of human
glory, perceive with certainty the inevitability of its waning. "Never
have I looked upon any thing save that I have seen extinction before it;
and God, verily, is a sufficient witness!"
17 It behoveth everyone to traverse this brief span of life with sincerity
and fairness. Should one fail to attain unto the recognition of Him Who is
the Eternal Truth, let him at least conduct himself with reason and
justice. Erelong these outward trappings, these visible treasures, these
earthly vanities, these arrayed armies, these adorned vestures, these
proud and overweening souls, all shall pass into the confines of the
grave, as though into that box. In the eyes of those possessed of insight,
all this conflict, contention and vainglory hath ever been, and will ever
be, like unto the play and pastimes of children. Take heed, and be not of
them that see and yet deny.
18 Our call concerneth not this Youth and the loved ones of God, for they
are already sore-tried and imprisoned and expect nothing from men such as
thee. Our purpose is that thou mayest lift up thy head from the couch of
heedlessness, shake off the slumber of negligence, and cease to oppose
unjustly the servants of God. So long as thy power and ascendancy endure,
strive to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed. Shouldst thou judge
with fairness and observe with the eye of discernment the conflicts and
pursuits of this transient world, thou wouldst readily acknowledge that
they are even as the play which We have described.
19 Hearken unto the words of the one true God and pride thyself not in the
things of this world. What hath become of those like unto thee who falsely
claimed lordship on earth, who sought to quench the light of God in His
land and to destroy the foundation of His mighty edifice in His cities?
Where are they to be seen now? Be fair in thy judgement and return unto
God, that perchance He might cancel the trespasses of thy vain life. Alas,
We know that thou shalt never attain unto this, for such is thy cruelty
that it hath made hell to blaze and the Spirit to lament, and hath caused
the pillars of the Throne to shake and the hearts of the faithful to
tremble.
20 O peoples of the earth! Incline your inner ears to the call of this
Wronged One and pause to reflect upon the story that We have recounted.
Perchance ye may not be consumed by the fire of self and passion, nor
allow the vain and worthless objects of this nether world to withhold you
from Him Who is the Eternal Truth. Glory and abasement, riches and
poverty, tranquillity and tribulation, all will pass away, and all the
peoples of the earth will erelong be laid to rest in their tombs. It
behoveth therefore every man of insight to fix his gaze upon the goal of
eternity, that perchance by the grace of Him Who is the Ancient King he
may attain unto the immortal Kingdom and abide beneath the shade of the
Tree of His Revelation.
21 Though this world be fraught with deception and deceit, yet it
continually warneth all men of their impending extinction. The death of
the father proclaimeth to the son that he, too, shall pass away. Would
that the inhabitants of the world who have amassed riches for themselves
and have strayed far from the True One might know who will eventually lay
hand on their treasures; but, by the life of Baha, no one knoweth this
save God, exalted be His glory.
22 The poet Sana'i, may God's mercy rest upon him, hath said: "Take heed,
O ye whose unseemly conduct hath darkened your faces! Take heed, O ye
whose beards have been whitened by age!" Alas, most of the people are fast
asleep. They are even as the man who, in his drunkenness, became attracted
to a dog, took it in his embrace, and made it his plaything, and who, when
the morn of discernment dawned and the light of the sun enveloped the
horizon, realized that the object of his affection was but a dog. Then,
filled with shame and remorse, he repaired to his abode.
23 Think not that thou hast abased this Youth or prevailed over Him. The
least of creatures ruleth over thee, and yet thou perceivest not. The
lowliest and most abject of all things holdeth sway over thee, and that is
none other than self and passion, which have ever been reprehensible. Were
it not for God's consummate wisdom, thou wouldst have been able to plainly
behold thine own helplessness and that of all who dwell on earth. Our
abasement is indeed the glory of His Cause, could ye but understand.
24 This Youth hath ever been disinclined to breathe a word contrary to
courtesy, for courtesy is Our raiment, wherewith We have adorned the
temples of Our well-favoured servants. Otherwise, some of the deeds that
ye believe to be concealed would have been divulged in this Tablet.
25 O exponent of might and power! These young children and these poor ones
in God did not need to be accompanied by officers and soldiers. Upon our
arrival in Gallipoli, a major by the name of 'Umar came into Our presence.
God is well aware of what he said. After some exchanges in which his own
innocence and thy guilt were mentioned, We declared: "From the outset, a
gathering should have been convened at which the learned men of this age
could have met with this Youth in order to determine what offence these
servants have committed. But now the matter hath gone beyond such
considerations, and, according to thine own assertion, thou art charged
with incarcerating Us in the most desolate of cities. There is a matter,
which, if thou findest it possible, I request thee to submit to His
Majesty the Sultan, that for ten minutes this Youth be enabled to meet
him, so that he may demand whatsoever he deemeth as a sufficient testimony
and regardeth as proof of the veracity of Him Who is the Truth. Should God
enable Him to produce it, let him, then, release these wronged ones, and
leave them to themselves."
26 He promised to transmit this message, and to give Us his reply. We
received, however, no news from him. Although it becometh not Him Who is
the Truth to present Himself before any person, inasmuch as all have been
created to obey Him, yet in view of the condition of these little children
and the large number of women so far removed from their friends and
countries, We have acquiesced in this matter. In spite of this nothing
hath resulted. 'Umar himself is alive and accessible. Inquire from him,
that the truth may be made known unto you.
27 Most of Our companions now lie sick in this prison, and none knoweth
what befell Us, except God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. In the days
following Our arrival, two of these servants hastened to the realms above.
For an entire day the guards insisted that, until they were paid for the
shrouds and burial, those blessed bodies could not be removed, although no
one had requested any help from them. At that time we were devoid of
earthly means, and pleaded that they leave the matter unto us and allow
those present to carry the bodies, but they refused. Finally, a carpet was
taken to the bazaar to be sold, and the sum obtained was delivered to the
guards. Later, it was learned that they had merely dug a shallow grave
into which they had placed both blessed bodies, although they had taken
twice the amount required for shrouds and burial.
28 The pen is powerless to depict and the tongue faileth to describe the
trials which We have suffered. Yet sweeter than honey to Me is the
bitterness of such tribulations. Would that at every instant all the
afflictions of the world could, in the path of God and for the sake of His
love, be visited upon this evanescent Soul Who is immersed in the ocean of
divine knowledge!
29 We implore God for patience and forbearance, inasmuch as thou art but a
feeble creature and bereft of comprehension. Wert thou to awaken and
inhale the fragrance of the breezes that waft from the retreats of
eternity, thou wouldst readily abandon all that thou dost possess and in
which thou dost rejoice, and choose to abide in one of the dilapidated
rooms of this Most Great Prison. Beseech God to grant thee such mature
understanding as to enable thee to distinguish praiseworthy actions from
those which merit blame. Peace be upon him who followeth the way of
guidance!
LAWH-I-FU'AD
He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!
1 Kaf. Za'.(75) We call unto thee from beyond the sea of grandeur, upon
the crimson land, above the horizon of tribulation. Verily, no God is
there save Him, the Almighty, the Most Generous. Walk thou steadfastly in
My Cause and follow not the ways of those who, upon attaining unto the
object of their desire, denied God, the Lord of Lords. Erelong shall He
lay hold upon them in His wrath, and He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the
All-Subduing.
2 Know thou that, through the power of His sovereign might, God hath
seized him who was the foremost amongst them that passed judgement against
Us. When he saw his torment approaching, he fled to Paris to seek recourse
to physicians.
3 "Is there none to help me?" he asked.
4 He was smitten upon the mouth and told: "There is no escape!"(76)
5 And when he turned towards the angel of wrath, he well-nigh expired from
fear. "I have a house full of riches," he pleaded. "I have a palace on the
Bosphorus, beneath which the rivers flow."
6 The angel replied: "No ransom shall be accepted from thee on this day,
even shouldst thou offer up all things visible and invisible. Hearest thou
not the sighs of the kindred of God, whom thou didst cast into prison
without proof or testimony? Thy deed hath provoked the lamentation of the
inmates of Paradise, and of those who circle morn and eve round the Throne
on high. The wrath of thy Lord hath descended upon thee, and stern is He
in His chastisement!"(77)
7 He made reply: "I held command over the people, and here is the mandate
of my authority."
8 "Hold thy peace, O denier of the Day of Judgement!"(78)
9 He implored: "Is no respite possible so that I may send for my family?"
10 "Far from it, O disbeliever in the verses of God!"
11 Thereupon the keepers of the fathomless abyss called unto him: "The
gates of Hell have opened wide to receive thee, O thou who hast turned
away from thy Lord, the Unconstrained! Repair unto its fire, for it
yearneth after thee. Hast thou forgotten, O rejected one, when thou wert
the Nimrod of the age, how thy tyranny eclipsed the very cruelties of
Pharaoh, the Lord of the Stakes?(79) By God! Thine iniquity hath rent
asunder the veil of sanctity and caused the pillars of heaven to tremble.
Where canst thou find refuge now? Who shall protect thee from the dreadful
scourge of thy Lord, the All-Compelling? There is no haven for thee in
this Day, O ungodly doubter!" Whereupon the agony of death seized him and
he saw no more. Thus did We lay hold on him in Our wrathful anger, and
severe is thy Lord in His punishment.
12 Then an angel from the right hand of the Throne summoned him: "Behold
the angel of affliction. Is there any place to flee to save hell, wherein
the heart(80) boileth?" And the angel of chastisement received his spirit,
and a voice proclaimed: "Enter the bottomless pit which hath been promised
in the Book, and whose existence thou didst day and night deny!"
13 Soon will We dismiss the one who was like unto him,(81) and will lay
hold on their Chief who ruleth the land,(82) and I, verily, am the
Almighty, the All-Compelling. Be thou steadfast in the Cause of God and
extol thy Lord morn and eve. Suffer not the light of thy soul to be
quenched by the calumnies of the one who was so blinded by Our bestowals
as to turn away from God, the Lord of all names. He inspireth his devoted
followers even as the Evil One prompteth his own. Erelong shalt thou
behold him in evident loss both in this world and in the world to come.
He, indeed, is among those whom an afflictive torment doth await. He
dispatched an epistle to someone in that land, a writ of the workers of
iniquity, in which he mocked God and recorded that which filled all
created things with dismay. Say: Canst thou find anyone to protect thee
when the wrath of God, the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained, is visited
upon thee?
14 Thus have We informed thee of that which lieth concealed within the
hearts of men. Verily, thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Knowing. Arise
for the triumph of this Cause, and gather together My loved ones. Help
them to see the truth in this Day when the feet of men have slipped. Say:
It behoveth every true believer to assist his Lord. He, verily, is your
helper, while the people have no one to turn to in this Day.
15 Then We seized Mihdi,(83) to whom We had promised divine chastisement
in Our Books and Scriptures. When Our awful majesty encompassed him, he
entreated: "May I not retrace my steps?"
16 A voice exclaimed: "Woe betide thee, O disbeliever in the Day of
Resurrection! This is the nethermost fire, and its flames have been made
to blaze for thee. Thou didst forsake all righteous deeds in thy vain and
futile life, and now thou hast none to shield thee from God. Thou art
indeed he who caused all hearts to be consumed and the Holy Spirit to
lament."
17 He pleaded: "Is there yet no refuge for me?"
18 "Nay, by my Lord, even shouldst thou seek recourse to every possible
means!"
19 Thereupon he cried out in such distress as to cause the people of the
graves to tremble, and was seized by the Hand of invincible power. A voice
then proclaimed: "Return unto the seat of wrath in the fire of hell;
wretched and evil be thine abode!"
20 Thus did We lay hold on him as We laid hold on those who preceded him.
Behold their houses which We have left to the spiders, and take heed, O ye
who are endued with understanding! He it is who opposed God, and for whom
the verses of wrath were revealed in the Book. Blessed is he who readeth
it and pondereth its contents, for a goodly end doth in truth await him.
21 Thus have We recounted unto thee the tale of the evil-doers, that thine
eyes may be solaced. As for thee, there lieth in store naught but a
blissful end.
SURIY-I-MULUK
He is the Almighty!
1 This is a Tablet from this Servant, who is called Husayn in the kingdom
of names, to the concourse of the kings of the earth. Haply they may
approach it in a spirit of open-mindedness, discover from its message the
mysteries of divine providence, and be of those that comprehend its
meaning, and perchance they may forsake all they possess, turn towards the
retreats of holiness, and draw nigh unto God, the All-Glorious, the
Incomparable.
2 O kings of the earth! Give ear unto the Voice of God, calling from this
sublime, this fruit-laden Tree, that hath sprung out of the Crimson Hill,
upon the holy Plain, intoning the words: "There is none other God but He,
the Mighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Wise." This is a Spot which hath
been sanctified by God for those who approach it, a Spot wherein His Voice
may be heard from the celestial Tree of Holiness. Fear God, O concourse of
kings, and suffer not yourselves to be deprived of this most sublime
grace. Fling away, then, the things ye possess, and take fast hold on the
Handle of God, the Exalted, the Great. Set your hearts towards the Face of
God, and abandon that which your desires have bidden you to follow, and be
not of those who perish.
3 Relate unto them, O Servant, the story of 'Ali,(84) when He came unto
them with truth, bearing His glorious and weighty Book, and holding in His
hands a testimony and proof from God, and holy and blessed tokens from
Him. Ye, however, O kings, have failed to heed the Remembrance of God in
His days and to be guided by the lights which arose and shone forth above
the horizon of a resplendent Heaven. Ye examined not His Cause when so to
do would have been better for you than all that the sun shineth upon,
could ye but perceive it. Ye remained careless until the divines of
Persia--those cruel ones--pronounced judgement against Him, and unjustly
slew Him. His spirit ascended unto God, and the eyes of the inmates of
Paradise and the angels that are nigh unto Him wept sore by reason of this
cruelty. Beware that ye be not careless henceforth as ye have been
careless aforetime. Return, then, unto God, your Maker, and be not of the
heedless.
4 Say: The Sun of vicegerency hath dawned, the Point of knowledge and
wisdom hath been made plain, and the Testimony of God, the Almighty, the
All-Wise, hath been made manifest. Say: The Moon of eternity hath risen in
the midmost heaven, and its light hath illumined the dwellers of the
realms above. My face hath come forth from the veils, and shed its
radiance upon all that is in heaven and on earth; and yet, ye turned not
towards Him, notwithstanding that ye were created for Him, O concourse of
kings! Follow, therefore, that which I speak unto you, and hearken unto it
with your hearts, and be not of such as have turned aside. For your glory
consisteth not in your sovereignty, but rather in your nearness unto God
and your observance of His command as sent down in His holy and preserved
Tablets. Should any one of you rule over the whole earth, and over all
that lieth within it and upon it, its seas, its lands, its mountains, and
its plains, and yet be not remembered by God, all these would profit him
not, could ye but know it.
5 Know ye that a servant's glory resideth in his nearness unto God, and
that, unless he draweth nigh unto Him, naught else can ever profit him,
even should he hold sway over the entire creation. Say: The breeze of God
hath wafted over you from the retreats of Paradise, but ye have neglected
it and chosen to persist in your waywardness. Guidance hath been given
unto you from God, but ye have failed to follow it and preferred to reject
its truth. The Lamp of God hath been lit within the niche of His Cause,
but ye have neglected to seek the radiance of its glory and to draw nigh
unto its light. And still ye slumber upon the couch of heedlessness!
6 Arise, then, and make steadfast your feet, and make ye amends for that
which hath escaped you, and set then yourselves towards His holy Court, on
the shore of His mighty Ocean, so that the pearls of knowledge and wisdom,
which God hath stored up within the shell of His radiant heart, may be
revealed unto you. Such is the counsel that shall profit you most; make of
it your provision, that ye may be of those who are guided aright. Beware
lest ye hinder the breeze of God from blowing over your hearts, the breeze
through which the hearts of such as have turned unto Him can be quickened.
Hearken unto the clear admonitions that We have revealed for you in this
Tablet, that God, in turn, may hearken unto you, and may open before your
faces the portals of His mercy. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the
Merciful.
7 Lay not aside the fear of God, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye
transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed. Observe the
injunctions laid upon you in His Book, and take good heed not to overstep
their limits. Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it
to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice,
for this, verily, is the straight path.
8 Compose your differences and reduce your armaments, that the burden of
your expenditures may be lightened, and that your minds and hearts may be
tranquillized. Heal the dissensions that divide you, and ye will no longer
be in need of any armaments except what the protection of your cities and
territories demandeth. Fear ye God, and take heed not to outstrip the
bounds of moderation and be numbered among the extravagant.
9 We have learned that ye are increasing your outlay every year, and are
laying the burden thereof on your subjects. This, verily, is more than
they can bear, and is a grievous injustice. Decide ye justly between men,
O kings, and be ye the emblems of justice amongst them. This, if ye judge
fairly, is the thing that behoveth you, and beseemeth your station.
10 Beware not to deal unjustly with anyone that appealeth to you and
entereth beneath your shadow. Walk ye in the fear of God, and be ye of
them that lead a godly life. Rest not on your power, your armies, and
treasures. Put your whole trust and confidence in God, Who hath created
you, and seek ye His help in all your affairs. Succour cometh from Him
alone. He succoureth whom He willeth with the hosts of the heavens and of
the earth.
11 Know ye that the poor are the trust of God in your midst. Watch that ye
betray not His trust, that ye deal not unjustly with them and that ye walk
not in the ways of the treacherous. Ye will most certainly be called upon
to answer for His trust on the day when the Balance of Justice shall be
set, the day when unto everyone shall be rendered his due, when the doings
of all men, be they rich or poor, shall be weighed.