diff --git "a/output_baha.csv" "b/output_baha.csv" deleted file mode 100644--- "a/output_baha.csv" +++ /dev/null @@ -1,18163 +0,0 @@ - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Every man of insight confesseth Thy -sovereignty and Thy dominion, -and every discerning eye perceiveth the -greatness of Thy majesty and the compelling power of Thy might. -The winds -of tests are powerless to hold back them that enjoy near access to Thee -from setting their faces towards the horizon of Thy glory, -and the -tempests of trials must fail to draw away and hinder such as are wholly -devoted to Thy will from approaching Thy court. - - -Methinks, -the lamp of Thy love is burning in their hearts, -and the light -of Thy tenderness is lit within their breasts. -Adversities are incapable -of estranging them from Thy Cause, -and the vicissitudes of fortune can -never cause them to stray from Thy pleasure. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by them and by the sighs which their hearts -utter in their separation from Thee, -to keep them safe from the mischief -of Thine adversaries, -and to nourish their souls with what Thou hast -ordained for Thy loved ones on whom shall come no fear and who shall not -be put to grief. - - - - - - - - - -Unto Thee be praise, -O Lord my God! -I entreat Thee, -by Thy signs that have -encompassed the entire creation, -and by the light of Thy countenance that -hath illuminated all that are in heaven and on earth, -and by Thy mercy -that hath surpassed all created things, -and by Thy grace that hath -suffused the whole universe, -to rend asunder the veils that shut me out -from Thee, -that I may hasten unto the Fountain-Head of Thy mighty -inspiration, -and to the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation and bountiful favors, - -and may be immersed beneath the ocean of Thy nearness and pleasure. - - -Suffer me not, -O my Lord, -to be deprived of the knowledge of Thee in Thy -days, -and divest me not of the robe of Thy guidance. -Give me to drink of -the river that is life indeed, -whose waters have streamed forth from the -Paradise (Ridván) in which the throne of Thy Name, -the All-Merciful, -was -established, -that mine eyes may be opened, -and my face be illumined, -and -my heart be assured, -and my soul be enlightened, -and my steps be made -firm. - - -Thou art He Who from everlasting was, -through the potency of His might, - -supreme over all things, -and, -through the operation of His will, -was able -to ordain all things. -Nothing whatsoever, -whether in Thy heaven or on Thy -earth, -can frustrate Thy purpose. -Have mercy, -then, -upon me, -O my Lord, - -through Thy gracious providence and generosity, -and incline mine ear to -the sweet melodies of the birds that warble their praise of Thee, -amidst -the branches of the tree of Thy oneness. - - -Thou art the Great Giver, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Him Who is Thy Most -Great Name, -Who hath been sorely afflicted by such of Thy creatures as -have repudiated Thy truth, -and Who hath been hemmed in by sorrows which no -tongue can describe, -to grant that I may remember Thee and celebrate Thy -praise, -in these days when all have turned away from Thy beauty, -have -disputed with Thee, -and turned away disdainfully from Him Who is the -Revealer of Thy Cause. -None is there, -O my Lord, -to help Thee except Thine -own Self, -and no power to succor Thee save Thine own power. - - -I entreat Thee to enable me to cleave steadfastly to Thy Love and Thy -remembrance. -This is, -verily, -within my power, -and Thou art the One that -knoweth all that is in me. -Thou, -in truth, -art knowing, -apprised of all. - -Deprive me not, -O my Lord, -of the splendors of the light of Thy face, - -whose brightness hath illuminated the whole world. -No God is there beside -Thee, -the Most Powerful, -the All-Glorious, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou art He Whom all things worship -and Who worshipeth no one, -Who is the Lord of all things and is the vassal -of none, -Who knoweth all things and is known of none. -Thou didst wish to -make Thyself known unto men; -therefore, -Thou didst, -through a word of Thy -mouth, -bring creation into being and fashion the universe. -There is none -other God except Thee, -the Fashioner, -the Creator, -the Almighty, -the Most -Powerful. - - -I implore Thee, -by this very word that hath shone forth above the horizon -of Thy will, -to enable me to drink deep of the living waters through which -Thou hast vivified the hearts of Thy chosen ones and quickened the souls -of them that love Thee, -that I may, -at all times and under all conditions, - -turn my face wholly towards Thee. - - -Thou art the God of power, -of glory and bounty. -No God is there beside -Thee, -the Supreme Ruler, -the All-Glorious, -the Omniscient. - - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -Thou beholdest me in the clutches of my -oppressors. -Every time I turn to my right, -I hear the voice of the -lamentation of them that are dear to Thee, -whom the infidels have made -captives for having believed in Thee and in Thy signs, -and for having set -their faces towards the horizon of Thy grace and of Thy loving-kindness. - -And when I turn to my left, -I hear the clamor of the wicked doers who have -disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs, -and persistently striven to put out -the light of Thy lamp which sheddeth the radiance of Thine own Self over -all that are in Thy heaven and all that are on Thy earth. - - -The hearts of Thy chosen ones, -O my Lord, -have melted because of their -separation from Thee, -and the souls of Thy loved ones are burnt up by the -fire of their yearning after Thee in Thy days. -I implore Thee, -O Thou -Maker of the heavens and Lord of all names, -by Thy most effulgent Self and -Thy most exalted and all-glorious Remembrance, -to send down upon Thy loved -ones that which will draw them nearer unto Thee, -and enable them to -hearken unto Thine utterances. - - -Tear asunder with the hand of Thy transcendent power, -O my Lord, -the veil -of vain imaginings, -that they who are wholly devoted to Thee may see Thee -seated on the throne of Thy majesty, -and the eyes of such as adore Thy -unity may rejoice at the splendors of the glory of Thy face. -The doors of -hope have been shut against the hearts that long for Thee, -O my Lord! - -Their keys are in Thy hands; -open them by the power of Thy might and Thy -sovereignty. -Potent art Thou to do as Thou pleasest. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Almighty, -the Beneficent. - - - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I swear by Thy might! -Successive -afflictions have withheld the pen of the Most High from laying bare that -which is hidden from the eyes of Thy creatures, -and incessant trials have -hindered the tongue of the Divine Ordainer from proclaiming the wonders of -Thy glorification and praise. -With a stammering tongue, -therefore, -I call -upon Thee, -O my God, -and with this my afflicted pen I occupy myself in -remembrance of Thy name. - - -Is there any man of insight, -O my God, -that can behold Thee with Thine own -eye, -and where is the thirsty one who can direct his face towards the -living waters of Thy love? -I am the one, -O my God, -who hath blotted out -from his heart the remembrance of all except Thee, -and hath graven upon it -the mysteries of Thy love. -Thine own might beareth me witness! -But for -tribulations, -how could the assured be distinguished from the doubters -among Thy servants? -They who have been inebriated with the wine of Thy -knowledge, -these, -verily, -hasten to meet every manner of adversity in -their longing to pass into Thy presence. -I implore Thee, -O Beloved of my -heart and the Object of my soul's adoration, -to shield them that love me -from the faintest trace of evil and corrupt desires. -Supply them, -then, - -with the good of this world and of the next. - - -Thou art, -verily, -He Whose grace hath guided them aright, -He Who hath -declared Himself to be the All-Merciful. -No God is there but Thee, -the -All-Glorious, -the Supreme Helper. - - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by this Revelation -whereby darkness hath been turned into light, -through which the Frequented -Fane hath been built, -and the Written Tablet revealed, -and the Outspread -Roll uncovered, -to send down upon me and upon them who are in my company -that which will enable us to soar into the heavens of Thy transcendent -glory, -and will wash us from the stain of such doubts as have hindered the -suspicious from entering into the tabernacle of Thy unity. - - -I am the one, -O my Lord, -who hath held fast the cord of Thy -loving-kindness, -and clung to the hem of Thy mercy and favors. -Do Thou -ordain for me and for my loved ones the good of this world and of the -world to come. -Supply them, -then, -with the Hidden Gift Thou didst ordain -for the choicest among Thy creatures. - - -These are, -O my Lord, -the days in which Thou hast bidden Thy servants to -observe the fast. -Blessed is he that observeth the fast wholly for Thy -sake and with absolute detachment from all things except Thee. -Assist me -and assist them, -O my Lord, -to obey Thee and to keep Thy precepts. -Thou, - -verily, -hast power to do what Thou choosest. - - -There is no God but Thee, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. -All praise be to -God, -the Lord of all worlds. - - - - - - - - - -Glorified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou beholdest my dwelling-place, - -and the prison into which I am cast, -and the woes I suffer. -By Thy might! - -No pen can recount them, -nor can any tongue describe or number them. -I -know not, -O my God, -for what purpose Thou hast abandoned me to Thine -adversaries. -Thy glory beareth me witness! -I sorrow not for the vexations -I endure for love of Thee, -nor feel perturbed by the calamities that -overtake me in Thy path. -My grief is rather because Thou delayest to -fulfill what Thou hast determined in the Tablets of Thy Revelation, -and -ordained in the books of Thy decree and judgment. - - -My blood, -at all times, -addresseth me saying: -"O Thou Who art the Image of -the Most Merciful! -How long will it be ere Thou riddest me of the -captivity of this world, -and deliverest me from the bondage of this life? - -Didst Thou not promise me that Thou shalt dye the earth with me, -and -sprinkle me on the faces of the inmates of Thy Paradise? -" To this I make -reply: -"Be thou patient and quiet thyself. -The things thou desirest can -last but an hour. -As to me, -however, -I quaff continually in the path of -God the cup of His decree, -and wish not that the ruling of His will should -cease to operate, -or that the woes I suffer for the sake of my Lord, -the -Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -should be ended. -Seek thou my wish and -forsake thine own. -Thy bondage is not for my protection, -but to enable me -to sustain successive tribulations, -and to prepare me for the trials that -must needs repeatedly assail me. -Perish that lover who discerneth between -the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his beloved! -Be thou -satisfied with what God hath destined for thee. -He, -verily, -ruleth over -thee as He willeth and pleaseth. -No God is there but Him, -the -Inaccessible, -the Most High. -" - - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -I know not what the water is with -which Thou hast created me, -or what the fire Thou hast kindled within me, - -or the clay wherewith Thou hast kneaded me. -The restlessness of every sea -hath been stilled, -but not the restlessness of this Ocean which moveth at -the bidding of the winds of Thy will. -The flame of every fire hath been -extinguished except the Flame which the hands of Thine omnipotence have -kindled, -and whose radiance Thou hast, -by the power of Thy name, -shed -abroad before all that are in Thy heaven and all that are on Thy earth. -As -the tribulations deepen, -it waxeth hotter and hotter. - - -Behold, -then, -O my God, -how Thy Light hath been compassed with the -onrushing winds of Thy decree, -how the tempests that blow and beat upon it -from every side have added to its brightness and increased its splendor. - -For all this let Thee be praised. - - -I implore Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name, -and Thy most ancient sovereignty, - -to look upon Thy loved ones whose hearts have been sorely shaken by reason -of the troubles that have touched Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine -own Self. -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou art, -verily, - -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - - - -O Thou Whose face is the object of the adoration of all that yearn after -Thee, -Whose presence is the hope of such as are wholly devoted to Thy -will, -Whose nearness is the desire of all that have drawn nigh unto Thy -court, -Whose countenance is the companion of those who have recognized Thy -truth, -Whose name is the mover of the souls that long to behold Thy face, - -Whose voice is the true life of Thy lovers, -the words of Whose mouth are -as the waters of life unto all who are in heaven and on earth! - - -I beseech Thee, -by the wrong Thou hast suffered and the ills inflicted -upon Thee by the hosts of wrongful doers, -to send down upon me from the -clouds of Thy mercy that which will purify me of all that is not of Thee, - -that I may be worthy to praise Thee and fit to love Thee. - - -Withhold not from me, -O my Lord, -the things Thou didst ordain for such of -Thy handmaidens as circle around Thee, -and on whom are poured continually -the splendors of the sun of Thy beauty and the beams of the brightness of -Thy face. -Thou art He Who from everlasting hath succored whosoever hath -sought Thee, -and bountifully favored him who hath asked Thee. - - -No God is there beside Thee, -the Mighty, -the Ever-Abiding, -the -All-Bounteous, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Darkness hath fallen upon every land, - -and the forces of mischief have encompassed all the nations. -Through them, - -however, -I perceive the splendors of Thy wisdom, -and discern the -brightness of the light of Thy providence. - - -They that are shut out as by a veil from Thee have imagined that they have -the power to put out Thy light, -and to quench Thy fire, -and to still the -winds of Thy grace. -Nay, -and to this Thy might beareth me witness! -Had not -every tribulation been made the bearer of Thy wisdom, -and every ordeal the -vehicle of Thy providence, -no one would have dared oppose us, -though the -powers of earth and heaven were to be leagued against us. -Were I to -unravel the wondrous mysteries of Thy wisdom which are laid bare before -me, -the reins of Thine enemies would be cleft asunder. - - -Glorified be Thou, -then, -O my God! -I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name -to assemble them that love Thee around the Law that streameth from the -good-pleasure of Thy will, -and to send down upon them what will assure -their hearts. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the Help in -Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -This is Thy servant who hath quaffed from -the hands of Thy grace the wine of Thy tender mercy, -and tasted of the -savor of Thy love in Thy days. -I beseech Thee, -by the embodiments of Thy -names whom no grief can hinder from rejoicing in Thy love or from gazing -on Thy face, -and whom all the hosts of the heedless are powerless to cause -to turn aside from the path of Thy pleasure, -to supply him with the good -things Thou dost possess, -and to raise him up to such heights that he will -regard the world even as a shadow that vanisheth swifter than the -twinkling of an eye. - - -Keep him safe also, -O my God, -by the power of Thine immeasurable majesty, - -from all that Thou abhorrest. -Thou art, -verily, -his Lord and the Lord of -all worlds. - - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -Thou beholdest how the tempestuous winds of -tests have caused the steadfast in faith to tremble, -and how the breath of -trials hath stirred up those whose hearts had been firmly established, - -except such as have partaken of the Wine that is life indeed from the -hands of the Manifestation of Thy name, -the Most Merciful. -These are the -ones whom no word except Thy most exalted word can move, -whom nothing -whatever save the sweet smelling fragrance of the robe of Thy remembrance -can enrapture, -O Thou Who art the Possessor of all names and the Maker of -earth and heaven! - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art the beloved Companion of Bahá, -by Thy name, - -the All-Glorious, -to keep safe these Thy servants under the shadow of the -wings of Thine all-encompassing mercy, -that the darts of the evil -suggestions of the wicked doers among Thy creatures, -who have disbelieved -in Thy signs, -may be kept back from them. -No one on earth, -O my Lord, -can -withstand Thy power, -and none in all the kingdom of Thy names is able to -frustrate Thy purpose. -Show forth, -then, -the power of Thy sovereignty and -of Thy dominion, -and teach Thy loved ones what beseemeth them in Thy days. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the -Most Great. - - - - - - - - - -All praise be to Thee, -O my God! -Thou beholdest my helplessness and -poverty, -and bearest witness unto my woes and trials. -How long wilt Thou -abandon me among Thy servants? -Suffer me to ascend into Thy presence. -The -power of Thy might beareth me witness! -Such are the tribulations with -which I am encompassed that I am powerless to recount them before Thy -face. -Thou, -alone, -verily, -hast through Thy knowledge reckoned them. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art my Companion in my lowliness, -to rain down -upon Thy loved ones from the clouds of Thy mercy that which will cause -them to be satisfied with Thy pleasure, -and will enable them to turn unto -Thee and to be detached from all else except Thee. -Ordain, -then, -for them -every good conceived by Thee and predestined in Thy Book. -Thou art, - -verily, -the All-Powerful, -He Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate. -From -everlasting Thou hast been clothed with transcendent greatness and power, - -with unspeakable majesty and glory. -There is no God beside Thee, -the -Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - -Glorified be Thy name, -Thou in Whose hand are the kingdoms of earth and -heaven. - - - - - - - - - -O Thou Who art the Ruler of earth and heaven and the Author of all names! - -Thou hearest the voice of my lamentation which from the fortress-town of -Akká ascendeth towards Thee, -and beholdest how my captive friends have -fallen into the hands of the workers of iniquity. - - -We render Thee thanks, -O our Lord, -for all the troubles which have touched -us in Thy path. -Oh, -that the span of my earthly life could be so extended -as to embrace the lives of the former and the latter generations, -or could -even be so lengthened that no man on the face of the earth could measure -it, -and be afflicted every day and every moment with a fresh tribulation -for love of Thee and for Thy pleasure's sake! - - -Thou well knowest, -however, -O my God, -that my wish is wholly dissolved in -Thy wish, -and that Thou hast irrevocably decreed that my soul should -ascend unto the loftiest mansions of Thy Kingdom, -and pass into the -presence of my all-glorious Companion. - - -Hasten, -by Thy grace and bounty, -my passing, -O my Lord, -and pour forth -upon all them that are dear to Thee what will preserve them from fear and -trembling after me. -Powerful art Thou to do whatsoever may please Thee. -No -God is there except Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -how Thy servants have left their homes in their -longing to meet Thee, -and how they have been hindered by the ungodly from -looking upon Thy face, -and from circumambulating the sanctuary of Thy -grandeur. -Pour out Thy steadfastness and send down Thy calm upon them, -O -my Lord! -Thou art, -in truth, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest my tears and lamentations, - -and hearest my sighing, -my cry and bitter wailing. -I am the one, -O my -Lord, -that hath held fast the cord of Thy mercy which hath surpassed the -entire creation. -I am the one that hath clung to the hem of Thy -loving-kindness, -O Thou in Whose hand is the empire of all names! - - -Have mercy upon me and upon all them that are in my company, -through the -wonders of Thy grace and power. -Shield us, -then, -O my God, -from the -mischief of Thine enemies, -and assist us to help Thy Faith, -and to protect -Thy Cause, -and to celebrate Thy glory. -Thou art, -verily, -He Who from -everlasting hath inhabited the inaccessible heights of His unity, -and will -continue to remain the same for ever and ever. -Nothing whatsoever escapeth -Thy knowledge, -nor is there anything that can frustrate Thee. -No God is -there beside Thee, -the Almighty, -the Ever-Faithful, -the Most Exalted, -the -All-Glorious, -the Best-Beloved. - - -Lauded and glorified art Thou, -in Whose hand is the empire of all things! - - - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O God, -the Lord of heaven! -Attire my head with the -crown of martyrdom, -even as Thou didst attire my body with the ornament of -tribulation before all that dwell in Thy land. -Grant, -moreover, -that they -whose hearts yearn over Thee may draw nigh unto the horizon of Thy grace, - -above which the Day-Star of Thy beauty sheddeth its radiance. -Ordain, - -also, -for them what will make them rich enough to dispense with aught else -except Thee, -and rid them of all attachment to such as have repudiated Thy -signs. - - -There is none other God but Thee, -the Guardian, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -How can I thank Thee for having singled me out -and chosen me above all Thy servants to reveal Thee, -at a time when all -had turned away from Thy beauty! -I testify, -O my God, -that if I were given -a thousand lives by Thee, -and offered them up all in Thy path, -I would -still have failed to repay the least of the gifts which, -by Thy grace, - -Thou hast bestowed upon me. - - -I lay asleep on the bed of self when lo, -Thou didst waken me with the -divine accents of Thy voice, -and didst unveil to me Thy beauty, -and didst -enable me to listen to Thine utterances, -and to recognize Thy Self, -and to -speak forth Thy praise, -and to extol Thy virtues, -and to be steadfast in -Thy love. -Finally I fell a captive into the hands of the wayward among Thy -servants. - - -Thou beholdest, -therefore, -the exile which I suffer in Thy days, -and art -aware of my vehement longing to look upon Thy face, -and of mine -irrepressible yearnings to enter the court of Thy glory, -and of the -stirrings of my heart under the influences of the winds of Thy mercy. - - -I entreat Thee, -O Thou Who art the Ruler of the kingdoms of creation and -the Author of all names, -to write down my name with the names of them who, - -from eternity, -have circled round the Tabernacle of Thy majesty, -and clung -to the hem of Thy loving-kindness, -and held fast the cord of Thy tender -mercy. - - -Thou art, -in truth, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name -through Which Thou didst stir up Thy servants and build up Thy cities, -and -by Thy most excellent titles, -and Thy most august attributes, -to assist -Thy people to turn in the direction of Thy manifold bounties, -and set -their faces towards the Tabernacle of Thy wisdom. -Heal Thou the sicknesses -that have assailed the souls on every side, -and have deterred them from -directing their gaze towards the Paradise that lieth in the shelter of Thy -shadowing Name, -which Thou didst ordain to be the King of all names unto -all who are in heaven and all who are on earth. -Potent art Thou to do as -pleaseth Thee. -In Thy hands is the empire of all names. -There is none -other God but Thee, -the Mighty, -the Wise. - - -I am but a poor creature, -O my Lord; -I have clung to the hem of Thy -riches. -I am sore sick; -I have held fast the cord of Thy healing. -Deliver -me from the ills that have encircled me, -and wash me thoroughly with the -waters of Thy graciousness and mercy, -and attire me with the raiment of -wholesomeness, -through Thy forgiveness and bounty. -Fix, -then, -mine eyes -upon Thee, -and rid me of all attachment to aught else except Thyself. -Aid -me to do what Thou desirest, -and to fulfill what Thou pleasest. - - -Thou art truly the Lord of this life and of the next. -Thou art, -in truth, - -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Thou Who beholdest all things and art hidden from -all things! -From every land Thou hearest the lamentations of them that -love Thee, -and from every direction Thou hearkenest unto the cries of such -as have recognized Thy sovereignty. -Were their oppressors to be asked: - -"Wherefore have ye oppressed them and held them in bondage in Ba_gh_dád -and elsewhere? -What injustice have they committed? -Whom have they -betrayed? -Whose blood have they spilled, -and whose property have they -plundered? -" they would know not what to answer. - - -Thou knowest full well, -O my God, -that their only crime is to have loved -Thee. -For this reason have their oppressors laid hold on them, -and -scattered them abroad. -Aware as I am, -O my God, -that Thou wilt send down -upon Thy servants only what is good for them, -I nevertheless beseech Thee, - -by Thy name which overshadoweth all things, -to raise up, -for their -assistance and as a sign of Thy grace and as an evidence of Thy power, - -those who will keep them safe from all their adversaries. - - -Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -Thou art, -verily, -the Supreme Ruler, - -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I am Thy servant and the son of Thy -servant. -I have set my face towards Thy Cause, -believing in Thy oneness, - -acknowledging Thy unity, -recognizing Thy sovereignty and the power of Thy -might, -and confessing the greatness of Thy majesty and glory. -I ask Thee, - -by Thy name through which the heaven was cleft asunder, -and the earth was -rent in twain, -and the mountains were crushed, -not to withhold from me the -breezes of Thy mercy which have been wafted in Thy days, -nor to suffer me -to be far removed from the shores of Thy nearness and bounty. - - -I am he who is sore athirst, -O my Lord! -Give me to drink of the living -waters of Thy grace. -I am but a poor creature; -reveal unto me the tokens -of Thy riches. -Doth it beseem Thee to cast out of the door of Thy grace -and bounty such as have set their hopes on Thee, -and can it befit Thy -sovereignty to hinder them that yearn after Thee from attaining the adored -sanctuary of Thy presence and from beholding Thy face? -By Thy glory! -Such -is not my belief in Thee, -for I am persuaded that Thou art the God of -bounteousness, -Whose grace hath encompassed all things. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy mercy that hath surpassed the entire -creation, -and Thy generosity that hath embraced all created things, -to -cause me to turn my face wholly towards Thee, -and to seek Thy shelter, -and -to be steadfast in my love for Thee. -Write down, -then, -for me what Thou -didst ordain for them who love Thee. -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou -pleasest. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the -All-Bountiful. - - -Praised be God, -the Lord of the worlds! - - - - - - - - -Exalted art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I am the one who hath forsaken his all -and set his face towards the splendors of the glory of Thy countenance, - -who hath severed every tie and clung to the cord of Thy love and of Thy -good-pleasure. -I am he, -O my God, -who hath embraced Thy love and accepted -all the adversities which the world can inflict, -who hath offered up -himself as a ransom for the sake of Thy loved ones, -that they may ascend -into the heavens of Thy knowledge and be drawn nearer unto Thee, -and may -soar in the atmosphere of Thy love and Thy good-pleasure. - - -Ordain, -O my God, -for me and for them that which Thou didst decree for -such of Thy chosen ones as are wholly devoted unto Thee. -Cause them, -then, - -to be numbered among those whose eyes Thou hast cleansed and kept from -turning to any one save Thee, -and whose eyes Thou hast protected from -beholding any face except Thy face. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the -Supreme King, -the Help in Peril, -the All-Pardoner, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee by the onrushing winds -of Thy grace, -and by them Who are the Day-Springs of Thy purpose and the -Dawning-Places of Thine inspiration, -to send down upon me and upon all -that have sought Thy face that which beseemeth Thy generosity and -bountiful grace, -and is worthy of Thy bestowals and favors. -Poor and -desolate I am, -O my Lord! -Immerse me in the ocean of Thy wealth; -athirst, - -suffer me to drink from the living waters of Thy loving-kindness. - - -I beseech Thee, -by Thine own Self and by Him Whom Thou hast appointed as -the Manifestation of Thine own Being and Thy discriminating Word unto all -that are in heaven and on earth, -to gather together Thy servants beneath -the shade of the Tree of Thy gracious providence. -Help them, -then, -to -partake of its fruits, -to incline their ears to the rustling of its -leaves, -and to the sweetness of the voice of the Bird that chanteth upon -its branches. -Thou art, -verily, -the Help in Peril, -the Inaccessible, -the -Almighty, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee by Them Who are the -Tabernacles of Thy Divine holiness, -Who are the Manifestations of Thy -transcendent unity and the Day-Springs of Thine inspiration and -revelation, -to grant that Thy servants may not be kept back from this -Divine Law which, -at Thy will and according to Thy pleasure, -hath branched -out from Thy most great Ocean. -Do Thou, -then, -ordain for them that which -Thou didst ordain for Thy chosen ones and for the righteous among Thy -creatures, -whose constancy in Thy Cause the tempests of trials have failed -to shake, -and whom the tumults of tests have been powerless to hinder from -magnifying Thy most exalted Word--the Word through Which the heavens of -men's idle fancies and vain imaginations have been split asunder. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Knowing. - - -Enable, -then, -Thy servants, -O my God, -to recognize the Day-Star that hath -shone forth above the horizon of Thine irrevocable decree and purpose, -and -suffer them not to be deprived of the Paradise which Thou, -by Thy name, - -the All-Glorious, -hast called into being in the heavens of Thine exalted -omnipotence. -Cause them, -moreover, -O my God, -to hearken to Thy most sweet -voice, -that they may all hasten to recognize Thy unity and acknowledge Thy -oneness, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of the hearts of all that yearn after -Thee, -and the Object of the adoration of such as have known Thee! - - -I beseech Thee, -by them that have cut down all the idols in this -Revelation through which the Most Grievous Convulsion and the Great Terror -have appeared, -to assist, -at all times, -Thy servants with the signs of -Thine almighty power and the evidences of Thy transcendent and -all-compelling might. -Grant, -then, -that their hearts may be made as strong -as brass, -that they may remain unmoved by the overpowering might of such -as have transgressed against Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine Essence -and the Day-Spring of Thine invisible Self, -and that they may all arise to -glorify and help Thee, -so that through them the ensigns of Thy triumph may -be lifted up in Thy realm, -and the standards of Thy Cause may be unfurled -throughout Thy dominions. -Thou art He who from everlasting hath, -through -the potency of His will, -been all-powerful, -and will continue to remain -the same for ever and ever. -Thou art, -verily, -the All-Glorious, -the Most -High. -No God is there but Thee, -the Most Powerful, -the Most Exalted, -the -Help in Peril, -the Most Great, -the One Being, -the Incomparable, -the -All-Glorious, -the Unrestrained. - - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Thy Chosen Ones, -and -by the Bearers of Thy Trust, -and by Him Whom Thou hast ordained to be the -Seal of Thy Prophets and of Thy Messengers, -to let Thy remembrance be my -companion, -and Thy love my aim, -and Thy face my goal, -and Thy name my -lamp, -and Thy wish my desire, -and Thy pleasure my delight. - - -I am a sinner, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the Ever-Forgiving. -As soon as I -recognized Thee, -I hastened to attain the exalted court of Thy -loving-kindness. -Forgive me, -O my Lord, -my sins which have hindered me -from walking in the ways of Thy good-pleasure, -and from attaining the -shores of the ocean of Thy oneness. - - -There is no one, -O my Lord, -who can deal bountifully with me to whom I can -turn my face, -and none who can have compassion on me that I may crave his -mercy. -Cast me not out, -I implore Thee, -of the presence of Thy grace, - -neither do Thou withhold from me the outpourings of Thy generosity and -bounty. -Ordain for me, -O my Lord, -what Thou hast ordained for them that -love Thee, -and write down for me what Thou hast written down for Thy -chosen ones. -My gaze hath, -at all times, -been fixed on the horizon of Thy -gracious providence, -and mine eyes bent upon the court of Thy tender -mercies. -Do with me as beseemeth Thee. -No God is there but Thee, -the God -of power, -the God of glory, -Whose help is implored by all men. - - - - - - - - - -Suffer me, -O my God, -to draw nigh unto Thee, -and to abide within the -precincts of Thy court, -for remoteness from Thee hath well-nigh consumed -me. -Cause me to rest under the shadow of the wings of Thy grace, -for the -flame of my separation from Thee hath melted my heart within me. -Draw me -nearer unto the river that is life indeed, -for my soul burneth with thirst -in its ceaseless search after Thee. -My sighs, -O my God, -proclaim the -bitterness of mine anguish, -and the tears I shed attest my love for Thee. - - -I beseech Thee, -by the praise wherewith Thou praisest Thyself and the -glory wherewith Thou glorifiest Thine own Essence, -to grant that we may be -numbered among them that have recognized Thee and acknowledged Thy -sovereignty in Thy days. -Help us then to quaff, -O my God, -from the fingers -of mercy the living waters of Thy loving-kindness, -that we may utterly -forget all else except Thee, -and be occupied only with Thy Self. -Powerful -art Thou to do what Thou willest. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Mighty, - -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - -Glorified be Thy name, -O Thou Who art the King of all Kings! - - - - - - - - - -Thou beholdest, -O my God, -the Day-Star of Thy Word shining above the -horizon of Thy prison-city, -inasmuch as within its walls He who is the -Manifestation of Thy Self and the Day-Spring of the light of Thy unity -hath raised His voice and uttered Thy praise. -The fragrances of Thy love -have thereby been wafted over Thy cities and have encompassed all the -dwellers of Thy realm. - - -Since Thou hast revealed Thy grace, -O my God, -deter not Thy servants from -directing their eyes towards it. -Consider not, -O my God, -their estate, -and -their concerns and their works. -Consider the greatness of Thy glory, -and -the plenteousness of Thy gifts, -and the power of Thy might, -and the -excellence of Thy favors. -I swear by Thy glory! -Wert Thou to look upon -them with the eye of justice, -all would deserve Thy wrath and the rod of -Thine anger. -Hold Thou Thy creatures, -O my God, -with the hands of Thy -grace, -and make Thou known unto them what is best for them of all the -things that have been created in the kingdom of Thine invention. - - -We testify, -O my God, -that Thou art God, -and that there is no God besides -Thee. -From eternity Thou hast existed with none to equal or rival Thee, - -and wilt abide for ever the same. -I beseech Thee, -by the eyes which see -Thee stablished upon the throne of unity and the seat of oneness, -to aid -all them that love Thee by Thy Most Great Name, -and to lift them up into -such heights that they will testify with their own beings and with their -tongues that Thou art God alone, -the Incomparable, -the One, -the -Ever-Abiding. -Thou hast had at no time any peer or partner. -Thou, -in -truth, -art the All-Glorious, -the Almighty, -Whose help is implored by all -men. - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I bear witness that from eternity Thou -wert exalted in Thy transcendent majesty and might, -and wilt to eternity -abide in Thy surpassing power and glory. -None in the kingdoms of earth and -heaven can frustrate Thy purpose; -none throughout the realms of revelation -and of creation can prevail against Thee. -At Thy command Thou doest what -Thou willest, -and by the power of Thy sovereignty Thou rulest as Thou -pleasest. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who causest the dawn to appear, -by Thy Lamp which -Thou didst light with the fire of Thy love before all that are in heaven -and on earth, -and whose flame Thou feedest with the fuel of Thy wisdom in -the kingdom of Thy creation, -to make me to be of those who have soared in -Thine atmosphere, -and surrendered their will to Thy decree. - - -I am all wretchedness, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the Most Powerful, -the -Almighty. -Have pity upon me by Thy grace and bountiful favor, -and -graciously aid me to serve Thee and them that are dear to Thee. -Potent art -Thou to do as Thou willest. -No God is there but Thee, -the God of strength, - -of glory and wisdom. - - - - - -Many a chilled heart, -O my God, -hath been set ablaze with the fire of Thy -Cause, -and many a slumberer hath been wakened by the sweetness of Thy -voice. -How many are the strangers who have sought shelter beneath the -shadow of the tree of Thy oneness, -and how numerous the thirsty ones who -have panted after the fountain of Thy living waters in Thy days! - - -Blessed is he that hath set himself towards Thee, -and hasted to attain the -Day-Spring of the lights of Thy face. -Blessed is he who with all his -affections hath turned to the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the -Fountain-Head of Thine inspiration. -Blessed is he that hath expended in -Thy path what Thou didst bestow upon him through Thy bounty and favor. - -Blessed is he who, -in his sore longing after Thee, -hath cast away all else -except Thyself. -Blessed is he who hath enjoyed intimate communion with -Thee, -and rid himself of all attachment to any one save Thee. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Him Who is Thy Name, -Who, -through the power -of Thy sovereignty and might, -hath risen above the horizon of His prison, - -to ordain for every one what becometh Thee and beseemeth Thine exaltation. - - -Thy might, -in truth, -is equal to all things. - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest me in this day shut up in my -prison, -and fallen into the hands of Thine adversaries, -and beholdest my -son (The Purest Branch) lying on the dust before Thy face. -He is Thy -servant, -O my Lord, -whom Thou hast caused to be related to Him Who is the -Manifestation of Thyself and the Day-Spring of Thy Cause. - - -At his birth he was afflicted through his separation from Thee, -according -to what had been ordained for him through Thine irrevocable decree. -And -when he had quaffed the cup of reunion with Thee, -he was cast into prison -for having believed in Thee and in Thy signs. -He continued to serve Thy -Beauty until he entered into this Most Great Prison. -Thereupon I offered -him up, -O my God, -as a sacrifice in Thy path. -Thou well knowest what they -who love Thee have endured through this trial that hath caused the -kindreds of the earth to wail, -and beyond them the Concourse on high to -lament. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by him and by his exile and his imprisonment, - -to send down upon such as loved him what will quiet their hearts and bless -their works. -Potent art Thou to do as Thou willest. -No God is there but -Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -I beseech Thee by them who have circled round -the throne of Thy will, -and soared in the atmosphere of Thy good-pleasure, - -and turned with all their affections towards the Horizon of Thy Revelation -and the Day-Spring of Thine inspiration, -and the Dawning-Place of Thy -names, -to aid Thy servants to observe what Thou hast commanded them in Thy -days--commandments through which the sacredness of Thy Cause will be -demonstrated unto Thy servants and the affairs of Thy creatures and of Thy -realm will be set aright. - - -I testify, -O my God, -that this is the Day whereon Thy testimony hath been -fulfilled, -and Thy clear tokens have been manifested, -and Thine utterances -have been revealed, -and Thy signs have been demonstrated, -and the radiance -of Thy countenance hath been diffused, -and Thy proof hath been perfected, - -and Thine ascendancy hath been established, -and Thy mercy hath overflowed, - -and the Day-Star of Thy grace hath shone forth with such brilliance that -Thou didst manifest Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and the Treasury of -Thy wisdom and the Dawning-Place of Thy majesty and power. -Thou didst -establish His covenant with every one who hath been created in the -kingdoms of earth and heaven and in the realms of revelation and of -creation. -Thou didst raise Him up to such heights that the wrongs -inflicted by the oppressors have been powerless to deter Him from -revealing Thy sovereignty, -and the ascendancy of the wayward hath failed -to prevent Him from demonstrating Thy power and from exalting Thy Cause. - - -So highly didst Thou exalt Him that He openly delivered unto the kings Thy -messages and commandments, -and hath never for one moment sought His own -protection, -but striven to protect Thy servants from whatever might -withhold them from approaching the kingdom of Thy nearness, -and from -setting their faces towards the horizon of Thy good-pleasure. - - -Thou seest, -O my God, -how, -notwithstanding the swords that are drawn -against Him, -He calleth the nations unto Thee, -and though Himself a -prisoner summoneth them to turn in the direction of Thy gifts and -bounties. -With every fresh tribulation He manifested a fuller measure of -Thy Cause, -and exalted more highly Thy word. - - -I testify that through Him the Pen of the Most High was set in motion, -and -with His remembrance the Scriptures in the kingdom of names were -embellished. -Through Him Thy fragrances were wafted, -and the sweet smell -of Thy raiment was shed abroad amongst all the dwellers of the earth and -the inmates of heaven. -Thou seest and knowest full well, -O my God, -how He -hath been made to dwell within the most desolate of cities, -so that He may -build up the hearts of Thy servants, -and hath been willing to suffer the -most grievous abasement, -that Thy creatures may be exalted. - - -I pray Thee, -O Thou Who causest the dawn to appear, -by Thy Name through -Which Thou hast subjected the winds, -and sent down Thy Tablets, -that Thou -wilt grant that we may draw near unto what Thou didst destine for us by -Thy favor and bounty, -and to be far removed from whatsoever may be -repugnant unto Thee. -Give us, -then, -to drink from the hands of Thy grace -every day and every moment of our lives of the waters that are life -indeed, -O Thou Who art the Most Merciful! -Make us, -then, -to be of them who -helped Thee when fallen into the hands of those Thine enemies who are -numbered with the rebellious among Thy creatures and the wicked amidst Thy -people. -Write down, -then, -for us the recompense ordained for him that hath -attained Thy presence, -and gazed on Thy beauty, -and supply us with every -good thing ordained in Thy Book for such of Thy creatures as enjoy near -access to Thee. - - -Brighten our hearts, -O my Lord, -with the splendor of Thy knowledge, -and -illumine our sight with the light of such eyes as are fixed upon the -horizon of Thy grace and the Day-Spring of Thy glory. -Preserve us, -then, - -by Thy Most Great Name, -Which Thou didst cause to overshadow such nations -as lay claim to what Thou hast forbidden in Thy Book. -This, -verily, -is -what Thou didst announce unto us in Thy Scriptures and Thy Tablets. - - -Cause us, -then, -to be so steadfast in our love towards Thee that we will -turn to none except Thee, -and will be reckoned amongst them that are -brought nigh to Thee, -and acknowledge Thee as One Who is exalted above -every comparison and is holy beyond all likeness, -and will lift up our -voices amongst Thy servants and cry aloud that He is the one God, -the -Incomparable, -the Ever-Abiding, -the Most Powerful, -the All-Glorious, -the -All-Wise. - - -Strengthen Thou, -O my Lord, -the hearts of them that love Thee, -that they -may not be affrighted by the hosts of the infidels that are turned back -from Thee, -but may follow Thee in whatsoever hath been revealed by Thee. - -Aid them, -moreover, -to remember and to praise Thee, -and to teach Thy Cause -with eloquence and wisdom. -Thou art He Who hath called Himself the Most -Merciful. -Ordain, -then, -O my God, -for me and for whosoever hath sought -Thee what beseemeth the excellence of Thy glory and the greatness of Thy -majesty. -No God is there but Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Compassionate. - - - - - - - -Thou seest Thy dear One, -O my God, -lying at the mercy of Thine enemies, - -and hearest the voice of His lamentation from the midst of such of Thy -creatures as have dealt wickedly in Thy sight. -He it is, -O my Lord, - -through Whose name Thou didst beautify Thy Tablets, -and for Whose greater -glory Thou didst send down the Bayán, -and at Whose separation from Thee -Thou didst weep continually. -Look Thou, -then, -upon His loneliness, -O my -God, -and behold Him fallen into the hands of them that have disbelieved in -Thy signs, -have turned their backs upon Thee, -and have forgotten the -wonders of Thy mercy. - - -He it is, -O my God, -about Whom Thou hast said: -"But for Thee the -Scriptures would have remained unrevealed, -and the Prophets unsent. -" And -no sooner had He, -by Thy behest, -been manifested and spoken forth Thy -praise, -than the wicked doers among Thy creatures compassed Him round, - -with the swords of hate drawn against Him, -O Thou the Lord of all names! - -Thou well knowest what befell Him at the hands of such as have rent -asunder the veil of Thy grandeur, -and cast behind their backs Thy Covenant -and Thy Testament, -O Thou Who art the Maker of the heavens! -He is the One -for Whose sake Thou (the Báb) hast yielded Thy life, -and hast consented to -be touched by the manifold ills of the world that He may manifest Himself, - -and summoned all mankind in His name. -As soon as He came down, -however, - -from the heaven of majesty and power, -Thy servants stretched out against -Him the hands of cruelty and sedition, -and caused Him to be afflicted with -such troubles that the scrolls of the world are insufficient to contain a -full recital of them. - - -Thou seest, -therefore, -O Thou Beloved of the world, -Him Who is dear to -Thee in the clutches of such as have denied Thee, -and beholdest Thy -heart's desire under the swords of the ungodly. -Methinks He, -from His most -exalted station, -saith unto me: -"Would that my soul, -O Prisoner, -could be -a ransom for Thy captivity, -and my being, -O wronged One, -be sacrificed for -the adversities Thou didst suffer! -Thou art He through Whose captivity the -standards of Thine almighty power were hoisted, -and the day-star of Thy -revelation shone forth above the horizon of tribulation, -in such wise that -all created things bowed down before the greatness of Thy majesty. - - -"The more they strove to hinder Thee from remembering Thy God and from -extolling His virtues, -the more passionately didst Thou glorify Him and -the more loudly didst Thou call upon Him. -And every time the veils of the -perverse came in between Thee and Thy servants, -Thou didst shed the -splendors of the light of Thy countenance out of the heaven of Thy grace. - -Thou art, -in very truth, -the Self-Subsisting as testified by the tongue of -God, -the All-Glorious, -the one alone Beloved; -and Thou art the Desire of -the world as attested by what hath flowed down from the Pen of Him Who -hath announced unto Thy servants Thy hidden Name, -and adorned the entire -creation with the ornament of Thy love, -the Most Precious, -the Most -Exalted. - - -"The eyes of the world were gladdened at the sight of Thy luminous -countenance, -and yet the peoples have united to put out Thy light, -O Thou -in Whose hands are the reins of the worlds! -All the atoms of the earth -have celebrated Thy praise, -and all created things have been set ablaze -with the drops sprinkled by the ocean of Thy love, -and yet the people -still seek to quench Thy fire. -Nay--and to this Thine own Self beareth me -witness--they are all weakness, -and Thou, -verily, -art the All-Powerful; -and -they are but paupers and Thou, -in truth, -art the All-Possessing; -and they -are impotent and Thou art, -truly, -the Almighty. -Naught can ever frustrate -Thy purpose, -neither can the dissensions of the world harm Thee. -Through -the breaths of Thine utterance the heaven of understanding hath been -adorned, -and by the effusions of Thy pen every moldering bone hath been -quickened. -Grieve not at what hath befallen Thee, -neither do Thou lay hold -on them for the things they have committed in Thy days. -Do Thou be -forbearing toward them. -Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Compassionate. -" - - - - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O my God! -Thou art He Who by a word of His mouth hath -revolutionized the entire creation, -and by a stroke of His pen hath -divided Thy servants one from another. -I bear witness, -O my God, -that -through a word spoken by Thee in this Revelation all created things were -made to expire, -and through yet another word all such as Thou didst wish -were, -by Thy grace and bounty, -endued with new life. - - -I render Thee thanks, -therefore, -and extol Thee, -in the name of all them -that are dear to Thee, -for that Thou hast caused them to be born again, -by -reason of the living waters which have flowed down out of the mouth of Thy -will. -Since Thou didst quicken them by Thy bounteousness, -O my God, -make -them steadfastly inclined, -through Thy graciousness, -towards Thy will; -and -since Thou didst suffer them to enter into the Tabernacle of Thy Cause, - -grant by Thy grace that they may not be kept back from Thee. - - -Unlock, -then, -to their hearts, -O my God, -the portals of Thy knowledge, - -that they may recognize Thee as One Who is far above the reach and ken of -the understanding of Thy creatures, -and immeasurably exalted above the -strivings of Thy people to hint at Thy nature, -and may not follow every -clamorous impostor that presumeth to speak in Thy name. -Enable them, - -moreover, -O my Lord, -to cleave so tenaciously to Thy Cause that they may -remain unmoved by the perplexing suggestions of them who, -prompted by -their desires, -utter what hath been forbidden unto them in Thy Tablets and -Thy Scriptures. - - -Thou art well aware, -O my Lord, -that I hear the howling of the wolves -which appear in Thy servants' clothing. -Keep safe, -therefore, -Thy loved -ones from their mischief, -and enable them to cling steadfastly to -whatsoever hath been manifested by Thee in this Revelation, -which no other -Revelation within Thy knowledge hath excelled. - - -Do Thou destine for them, -O my Lord, -that which will profit them. - -Illumine, -then, -their eyes with the light of Thy knowledge, -that they may -see Thee visibly supreme over all things, -and resplendent amidst Thy -creatures, -and victorious over all that are in Thy heaven and all that are -on Thy earth. -Powerful art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -No God is there but -Thee, -the All-Glorious, -Whose help is implored by all men. - - -Praised be Thou, -Who art the Lord of all creation. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee by Thine Ancient Beauty and -Most Great Name, -Whom Thou hast sacrificed that all the dwellers of Thine -earth and heaven may be born anew, -and Whom Thou hast cast into prison -that mankind may, -as a token of Thy bounty and of Thy sovereign might, -be -released from the bondage of evil passions and corrupt desires, -to number -me with those who have so deeply inhaled the fragrance of Thy mercy, -and -hastened with such speed unto the living waters of Thy grace, -that no dart -could hinder them from turning unto Thee, -nor any spear from setting their -faces towards the orient of Thy Revelation. - - -We testify, -O my Lord, -that Thou art God and that there is none other God -besides Thee. -From everlasting Thou wast enthroned on the inaccessible -heights of Thy power, -and wilt unto everlasting continue to exercise Thy -transcendent and unrestrained dominion. -The hosts of the world are -powerless to frustrate Thy will, -nor can all the dwellers of the earth and -all the inmates of heaven annul Thy decree. -Thou truly art the Almighty, - -the Most Exalted, -the Most Great. - - -Bless, -O my God, -those of the followers of the Bayán as have been numbered -with the people of Bahá, -who have entered within the Crimson Ark in Thy -Name, -the Most Exalted, -the Most High. -Thy might, -verily, -is equal to all -things. - - - - - - - - -I give praise to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I entreat Thee by Thy Name through -which Thou didst cause the dawn to appear, -and the winds to blow, -and the -seas to surge, -and the trees to bring forth their fruits, -and the earth to -be beautified with its rivers, -that Thou wilt aid all them that are dear -to Thee with both Thy visible and invisible hosts. -Render them, -moreover, - -victorious over all those who have so rebelled in Thy land, -and dishonored -Thy name, -and disbelieved in Thy signs, -and broken Thy Covenant, -and cast -behind their backs Thy laws, -and have to such an extent risen up against -Thee, -that they carried into captivity Thy kindred, -and flung the -Manifestation of Thy Self into prison, -and immured Him Who is the -Day-Spring of Thine Essence in the most desolate of cities. - - -Thou, -O my Lord, -art He whose strength is immense, -Whose decree is -terrible. -Lay hold on Thine adversaries by the power of Thy sovereignty, - -and assemble Thy loved ones beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy oneness, - -that they may stand before Thy throne, -and catch the accents of Thy voice, - -and gaze on Thy beauty, -and discover the power of Thy might. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the All-Powerful, -the Almighty. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -I am so carried away by the breezes blowing -from Thy presence that I have forgotten my self and all that I possess. - -This is but a sign of the wonders of Thy grace and bountiful favors -vouchsafed unto me. -I give praise to Thee, -O my God, -that Thou hast chosen -me out of all Thy creatures, -and made me to be the Day-Spring of Thy -strength and the Manifestation of Thy might, -and empowered me to reveal -such of Thy signs and such tokens of Thy majesty and power as none, - -whether in Thy heaven or on Thy earth, -can produce. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy most effulgent Name, -to acquaint my -people with the things Thou didst destine for them. -Do Thou, -then, - -preserve them within the stronghold of Thy guardianship and the tabernacle -of Thine unerring protection, -lest through them may appear what will -divide Thy servants. -Assemble them, -O my Lord, -on the shores of this -Ocean, -every drop of which proclaimeth Thee to be God, -besides Whom there -is none other God, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - -Uncover before them, -O my Lord, -the majesty of Thy Cause, -lest they be led -to doubt Thy sovereignty and the power of Thy might. -I swear by Thy glory, - -O Thou Who art the Beloved of the worlds! -Had they been aware of Thy power -they would of a certainty have refused to utter what Thou didst not ordain -for them in the heaven of Thy will. - - -Inspire them, -O my Lord, -with a sense of their own powerlessness before -Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self, -and teach them to recognize the -poverty of their own nature in the face of the manifold tokens of Thy -self-sufficiency and riches, -that they may gather together round Thy -Cause, -and cling to the hem of Thy mercy, -and cleave to the cord of the -good-pleasure of Thy will. - - -Thou art the Lord of the worlds, -and of all those who show mercy, -art the -Most Merciful. - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O King of eternity, -and the Maker of nations, -and the -Fashioner of every moldering bone! -I pray Thee, -by Thy Name through which -Thou didst call all mankind unto the horizon of Thy majesty and glory, -and -didst guide Thy servants to the court of Thy grace and favors, -to number -me with such as have rid themselves from everything except Thyself, -and -have set themselves towards Thee, -and have not been kept back by such -misfortunes as were decreed by Thee, -from turning in the direction of Thy -gifts. - - -I have laid hold, -O my Lord, -on the handle of Thy bounty, -and clung -steadfastly to the hem of the robe of Thy favor. -Send down, -then, -upon me, - -out of the clouds of Thy generosity, -what will purge out from me the -remembrance of any one except Thee, -and make me able to turn unto Him Who -is the Object of the adoration of all mankind, -against Whom have been -arrayed the stirrers of sedition, -who have broken Thy covenant, -and -disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs. - - -Deny me not, -O my Lord, -the fragrances of Thy raiment in Thy days, -and -deprive me not of the breathings of Thy Revelation at the appearance of -the splendors of the light of Thy face. -Powerful art Thou to do what -pleaseth Thee. -Naught can resist Thy will, -nor frustrate what Thou hast -purposed by Thy power. - - -No God is there but Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -I testify that Thou wast a hidden -Treasure wrapped within Thine immemorial Being and an impenetrable Mystery -enshrined in Thine own Essence. -Wishing to reveal Thyself, -Thou didst call -into being the Greater and the Lesser Worlds, -and didst choose Man above -all Thy creatures, -and didst make Him a sign of both of these worlds, -O -Thou Who art our Lord, -the Most Compassionate! - - -Thou didst raise Him up to occupy Thy throne before all the people of Thy -creation. -Thou didst enable Him to unravel Thy mysteries, -and to shine -with the lights of Thine inspiration and Thy Revelation, -and to manifest -Thy names and Thine attributes. -Through Him Thou didst adorn the preamble -of the book of Thy creation, -O Thou Who art the Ruler of the universe Thou -hast fashioned! - - -I bear witness that in His person solidity and fluidity have been joined -and combined. -Through His immovable constancy in Thy Cause, -and His -unwavering adherence to whatsoever Thou, -in the plentitude of the light of -Thy glory, -didst unveil to His eyes, -throughout the domains of Thy -Revelation and creation, -the souls of Thy servants were stirred up in -their longing for Thy Kingdom, -and the dwellers of Thy realms rushed forth -to enter into Thy heavenly dominion. -Through the restlessness He evinced -in Thy path, -the feet of all them that are devoted to Thee were steeled -and confirmed to manifest Thy Cause amidst Thy creatures, -and to -demonstrate Thy sovereignty throughout Thy realm. - - -How great, -O my God, -is this Thy most excellent handiwork, -and how -consummate Thy creation, -which hath caused every understanding heart and -mind to marvel! -And when the set time was fulfilled, -and what had been -preordained came to pass, -Thou didst unloose His tongue to praise Thee, - -and to lay bare Thy mysteries before all Thy creation, -O Thou Who art the -Possessor of all names, -and the Fashioner of earth and heaven! -Through Him -all created things were made to glorify Thee, -and to celebrate Thy praise, - -and every soul was directed towards the kingdom of Thy revelation and Thy -sovereignty. - - -At one time, -Thou didst raise Him up, -O my God, -and didst attire Him with -the ornament of the name of Him Who conversed with Thee (Moses), -and didst -through Him uncover all that Thy will had decreed and Thine irrevocable -purpose ordained. -At another time, -Thou didst adorn Him with the name of -Him Who was Thy Spirit (Jesus), -and didst send Him down out of the heaven -of Thy will, -for the edification of Thy people, -infusing thereby the -spirit of life into the hearts of the sincere among Thy servants and the -faithful among Thy creatures. -Again, -Thou didst reveal Him, -decked forth -by the name of Him Who was Thy Friend (Muhammad), -and caused Him to shine -brightly above the horizon of Hijáz, -as a token of Thy power and an -evidence of Thy might. -Through Him Thou didst send unto Thy servants what -enabled them to scale the heights of Thy unity, -and to yearn over the -wonders of Thy manifold knowledge and wisdom. - - -I testify, -O Thou Who art the Lord of the whole creation, -and the Desire -of whosoever hath sought Thee, -that, -amidst Thy creatures, -They resemble -the sun which no matter how often it riseth and setteth is still the one -and the same sun. -Whoso maketh any distinction between any of Them hath -truly failed to attain the ultimate purpose, -and to reach the highest -goal, -and hath been deprived of the mysteries of unity and of the lights -of sanctity and oneness. -I testify, -moreover, -that Thou hast decreed that -none on the face of the earth should equal Them, -and none of Thy creatures -be able to be compared with any of Them, -in order that Thine own -singleness and peerlessness might be recognized and established. - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified be Thy name, -O my God! -How can I ever -befittingly mention Thee or sufficiently praise Thee, -that Thou hast -manifested Him by the power of Thy might, -and caused Him to shine above -the horizon of Thy will, -and made Him the Day-Spring of Thy signs, -and the -Dawning-Place of the revelation of Thy names and Thine attributes? -How -bewilderingly mysterious, -moreover, -O my God, -is His nature and all that -Thou hast infused into Him, -through Thy strength and by the power of Thy -might! -At one time He appeareth as the water which is Life indeed, -sent -down out of the heaven of Thy grace, -and poured forth from the clouds of -Thy mercy, -that Thy creatures may be endued with new life, -and live as -long as Thine own Kingdom endureth. -Every drop of that water would suffice -to quicken the dead, -and to set their faces in the direction of Thy favors -and Thy gifts, -and to rid them of all attachment to aught else except -Thee. -At another time He revealeth Himself as the Fire which Thou didst -kindle in the tree of Thy unity, -whose heat melted the hearts of Thine -ardent lovers when He Who is the Day-Star of the world shone forth above -the horizon of 'Iráq. -I testify, -O my God, -that through Him the veils of -human fancy were burnt up, -and the hearts of men were set towards the -scene of Thy most resplendent glory. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art the Supreme Ordainer, -not to suffer me to -be deprived of the breezes which are wafted in Thy days, -the days whereon -the sweet smell of the raiment of Thy mercy hath been shed abroad. -Neither -do Thou keep me back from Thy most great Ocean, -every drop of which crieth -out and saith: -"Great is the blessedness that awaiteth him who hath been -awakened from his sleep by the breath of God which, -from the source of His -mercy, -hath blown over all such of His creatures as have set themselves -towards Him! -" - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -how Thy servants are held captive by their own -selves and desires. -Redeem them from their bondage, -O my God, -by the power -of Thy sovereignty and might, -that they may turn towards Thee when He Who -is the Revealer of Thy names and attributes is manifested unto men. - - -Cast upon this poor and desolate creature, -O my Lord, -the glance of Thy -wealth, -and flood his heart with the beams of Thy knowledge, -that he may -apprehend the verities of the unseen world, -and discover the mysteries of -Thy heavenly realm, -and perceive the signs and tokens of Thy kingdom, -and -behold the manifold revelations of this earthly life all set forth before -the face of Him Who is the Revealer of Thine own Self. -Direct, -then, -his -eyes, -O my God, -towards the horizon of Thy loving-kindness, -and make -steadfast his heart in its attachment to Thee, -and unloose his tongue to -praise Thee, -and make him able to hold fast the cord of Thy love, -and to -cling to the hem of Thy bounteousness, -and to proclaim Thy name amidst Thy -creatures, -and to recount Thy virtues throughout Thy realm, -in such wise -that no obstacle will deter him from turning to Thy name, -the -All-Bountiful, -and no veil shut him out from Thee, -in Whose hand is the -dominion of utterance and the kingdom of all names and attributes! - - -Hold Thou the hand of this seeker who hath set his face towards Thee, -O my -Lord, -and draw him out of the depths of his vain imaginations, -that the -light of certainty may shine brightly above the horizon of his heart in -the days whereon the sun of the knowledge of Thy creatures hath been -darkened through the shining of the Day-Star of Thy glory; -the days -whereon the moon of the world's wisdom hath been eclipsed through the -appearance of Thy hidden knowledge, -and the manifestation of Thy -well-guarded secret, -and the revelation of Thine enshrined mystery; -the -days whereon the stars of men's doings have fallen through the rising of -the orb of Thy unity and the shedding of the radiance of Thy transcendent -oneness. - - -I beg of Thee, -O my God, -by Thy most exalted Word which Thou hast ordained -as the Divine Elixir unto all who are in Thy realm, -the Elixir through -whose potency the crude metal of human life hath been transmuted into -purest gold, -O Thou in Whose hands are both the visible and invisible -kingdoms, -to ordain that my choice be conformed to Thy choice and my wish -to Thy wish, -that I may be entirely content with that which Thou didst -desire, -and be wholly satisfied with what Thou didst destine for me by Thy -bounteousness and favor. -Potent art Thou to do as Thou willest. -Thou, -in -very truth, -art the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - -Happy is the man who hath recognized Thee, -and discovered the sweetness of -Thy fragrance, -and set himself towards Thy kingdom, -and tasted of the -things that have been perfected therein by Thy grace and favor. -Great is -the blessedness of him who hath acknowledged Thy most excellent majesty, - -and whom the veils that have shut out the nations from Thee have not -hindered from directing his eyes towards Thee, -O Thou Who art the King of -eternity and the Quickener of every moldering bone! -Blessed, -also, -is he -that hath inhaled Thy sweet savors, -and been carried away by Thine -utterances in Thy days. -Blessed, -moreover, -be the man that hath turned -unto Thee, -and woe betide him that hath turned his back upon Thee. - - -Praised be Thou, -the Lord of the worlds! - - - - - - - - -O Thou Who dealest equitably with all who are in heaven and on earth, -and -rulest over the kingdom of Thy creation and of Thy Revelation! -I testify -that every man of equity hath recognized his unfairness in the face of the -revelation of the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy Justice, -and the ablest -of pens hath confessed its impotence before the movement of Thy most -exalted Pen. - - -By Thy life, -O Thou the Possessor of all names! -The minds of the -profoundest thinkers are sore perplexed as they contemplate the ocean of -Thy knowledge, -and the heaven of Thy wisdom, -and the Luminary of Thy -grace. -How can he who is but a creation of Thy will claim to know what is -with Thee, -or to conceive Thy nature? - - -Praise, -immeasurable praise be to Thee! -I swear by Thy glory! -My inner and -outer tongue, -openly and secretly, -testify that Thou hast been exalted -above the reach and ken of Thy creatures, -above the utterance of Thy -servants, -above the testimonies of Thy dear ones and Thy chosen ones, -and -the apprehension of Thy Prophets and of Thy Messengers. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy Name which Thou hast made to be the -Day-Spring of Thy Revelation and the Dawning-Place of Thine inspiration, - -to ordain for this wronged One and for them that are dear to Thee what -becometh Thy loftiness. -Thou, -in very truth, -art the All-Bountiful, -the -All-Powerful, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee, -by Thy Name which none -hath befittingly recognized, -and whose import no soul hath fathomed; -I -beseech Thee, -by Him Who is the Fountain-Head of Thy Revelation and the -Day-Spring of Thy signs, -to make my heart to be a receptacle of Thy love -and of remembrance of Thee. -Knit it, -then, -to Thy most great Ocean, -that -from it may flow out the living waters of Thy wisdom and the crystal -streams of Thy glorification and praise. - - -The limbs of my body testify to Thy unity, -and the hair of my head -declareth the power of Thy sovereignty and might. -I have stood at the door -of Thy grace with utter self-effacement and complete abnegation, -and clung -to the hem of Thy bounty, -and fixed mine eyes upon the horizon of Thy -gifts. - - -Do Thou destine for me, -O my God, -what becometh the greatness of Thy -majesty, -and assist me, -by Thy strengthening grace, -so to teach Thy Cause -that the dead may speed out of their sepulchers, -and rush forth towards -Thee, -trusting wholly in Thee, -and fixing their gaze upon the orient of -Thy Cause, -and the dawning-place of Thy Revelation. - - -Thou, -verily, -art the Most Powerful, -the Most High, -the All-Knowing, -the -All-Wise. - - - - - - - -Thy unity is inscrutable, -O my God, -to all except them that have -recognized Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy singleness and the -Day-Spring of Thy oneness. -Whoso assigneth a rival unto Him hath assigned -a rival unto Thee, -and whoso hath set up a peer for Him hath set up a peer -for Thyself. -No, -no, -none can withstand Thee in the whole of creation. - -Thou hast everlastingly been exalted far above all comparison and -likeness. -Thy oneness hath been demonstrated by the oneness of Him Who is -the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation. -Whosoever denieth this, -hath denied -Thy unity, -and disputed with Thee about Thy sovereignty, -and contended -with Thee in Thy realm, -and repudiated Thy commandments. - - -Assist Thou Thy servants, -O my Lord, -to recognize Thy unity and to declare -Thy oneness, -that all may gather together around what Thou didst desire in -this Day whereon the sun of Thine essence hath shone forth above the -horizon of Thy will, -and the moon of Thine own being hath risen from the -Day-Spring of Thy behest. -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -from Whose knowledge -nothing whatsoever escapeth, -and Whom no one can frustrate. -Thou doest Thy -pleasure, -by Thy sovereignty that overshadoweth the worlds. - - -Thou well knowest, -O my God, -my Best-Beloved, -that naught can quench the -thirst I suffer in my separation from Thee except the waters of Thy -presence, -and that the tumult of my heart can never be stilled save -through the living fountain of my reunion with Thee. -Send down, -then, -upon -me, -O my Lord, -out of the heaven of Thy bounty what will draw me nearer -unto the chalice of Thy gifts, -and make me able to quaff the choice sealed -Wine, -Whose seal hath been loosed in Thy name, -and from Which the sweet -savors of Thy days have been shed abroad. -Thou, -in truth, -art the -All-Bountiful, -Whose grace is infinite. - - -The whole universe testifieth to Thy generosity. -Have mercy, -then, -upon me -by Thy graciousness, -and deal bountifully with me through the power of Thy -sovereignty, -and suffer me to enjoy near access to Thee by Thy manifold -favors. -Thou, -truly, -art the Great Giver, -the Almighty, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God and the God of all things, -my Glory and the -Glory of all things, -my Desire and the Desire of all things, -my Strength -and the Strength of all things, -my King and the King of all things, -my -Possessor and the Possessor of all things, -my Aim and the Aim of all -things, -my Mover and the Mover of all things! -Suffer me not, -I implore -Thee, -to be kept back from the ocean of Thy tender mercies, -nor to be far -removed from the shores of nearness to Thee. - - -Aught else except Thee, -O my Lord, -profiteth me not, -and near access to -any one save Thyself availeth me nothing. -I entreat Thee by the -plenteousness of Thy riches, -whereby Thou didst dispense with all else -except Thyself, -to number me with such as have set their faces towards -Thee, -and arisen to serve Thee. - - -Forgive, -then, -O my Lord, -Thy servants and Thy handmaidens. -Thou, -truly, - -art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - -O God, -Who art the Author of all Manifestations, -the Source of all -Sources, -the Fountain-Head of all Revelations, -and the Well-Spring of all -Lights! -I testify that by Thy Name the heaven of understanding hath been -adorned, -and the ocean of utterance hath surged, -and the dispensations of -Thy providence have been promulgated unto the followers of all religions. - - -I beseech Thee so to enrich me as to dispense with all save Thee, -and be -made independent of any one except Thyself. -Rain down, -then, -upon me out -of the clouds of Thy bounty that which shall profit me in every world of -Thy worlds. -Assist me, -then, -through Thy strengthening grace, -so to serve -Thy Cause amidst Thy servants that I may show forth what will cause me to -be remembered as long as Thine own kingdom endureth and Thy dominion will -last. - - -This is Thy servant, -O my Lord, -who with his whole being hath turned unto -the horizon of Thy bounty, -and the ocean of Thy grace, -and the heaven of -Thy gifts. -Do with me then as becometh Thy majesty, -and Thy glory, -and Thy -bounteousness, -and Thy grace. - - -Thou, -in truth, -art the God of strength and power, -Who art meet to answer -them that pray Thee. -There is no God save Thee, -the All-Knowing, -the -All-Wise. - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Thou Who art my God and throbbest within my heart! - -Thou art well aware and dost witness that whatsoever shameth them that are -dear to Thee must shame also Him Who is the Manifestation of Thyself and -the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation. -Nay, -He is put to greater shame than -they when they are led to confess the good things which have escaped them -in Thy days. - - -These are Thy servants, -O my Lord, -who for love of Thee have abandoned -their homes, -and sustained the tribulations decreed by Thee in Thy path. -I -swear by Thy glory! -Every time any one of them testifieth before Thee to -his evil doings, -shame covereth my face, -for they are Thy servants who -have tasted of the cup of woe in Thy Cause, -who have quaffed from the -chalice of adversity when the light of Thy countenance was lifted upon -them, -and who were so vexed by trials that peace was utterly denied them -within the precincts of Thy court. - - -The power of Thy might beareth me witness! -My heart hath melted by reason -of my love for them that are dear to Thee, -and my soul is laden with -anguish for the sorrows which have afflicted them at the revelation of Thy -Cause and the appearance of the billowing oceans of Thy grace and favors. - -The sighs they uttered, -O my Lord, -have caused my sighs to ascend towards -Thee, -and the burning of their hearts hath consumed mine own heart within -me. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all being and the Enlightener -of all things visible and invisible, -to grant that every one of them may -become an ensign of Thy guidance among Thy servants, -and a revelation of -the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy loving-kindness amidst Thy creatures. - -Thou hast, -O my God, -chosen them to love Thee, -and to stand before the -throne of Thy majesty. -No other station hath excelled the station to which -Thou hast called them. -How many the nights, -O my God, -when sleep failed to -overtake them because of their remembrance of Thee, -and how numerous the -days which they spent in lamentation over the things that have befallen -Thee at the hands of Thine enemies! -I entreat Thee, -O Thou Who art the -Ruler of rulers, -and the Uplifter of the downtrodden, -to aid them so to -assist Thy Cause and exalt Thy word that through them Thy praise may be -shed abroad amidst Thy creatures, -and Thy virtues recounted throughout Thy -realm. -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -This is Thy servant whom Thou hast in the -kingdom of Thy names called by Thine own name, -and whom Thou hast reared -under the wings of Thy grace and favors. -Thou seest him, -therefore, - -hastening in the direction of Thy gifts, -and rushing forth towards Thee -seeking after Thy bounty. -Attire him, -O my God, -with the mantle of Thy -favor and the robe of Thy munificence and generosity, -that all created -things may perceive from him the sweet smell of the raiment of Thy love. - -Adorn, -then, -his head with the crown of Thy remembrance, -in such wise that -his fame may be noised abroad among Thy servants as one who loveth Thee -and cleaveth steadfastly to Thy Cause. -Assist him, -moreover, -at all times -and under all conditions to help Thee and to remember Thee, -and to extol -Thy virtues amidst Thy creatures. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O my God! -Every time I muse on Thy glory and Thy -sovereignty I find myself as the most guilty among them that have -transgressed against Thee in Thy realm, -and every time I contemplate the -heights in which none except Thee can abide, -I discover that I am the most -sinful of all the creatures that dwell in Thy land. -Had it not been for -Thy name, -the Concealer, -and for Thy name, -the Ever-Forgiving, -and for the -sweet savors of Thy name, -the Most Merciful, -all Thy chosen ones had been -reckoned amongst the perverse and the wicked. - - -I render Thee thanks that Thy mercy hath overtaken them and Thy grace and -bountiful favors compassed them on every side. - - -And now, -having confessed the things Thou didst cause to flow down from my -Pen, -I implore Thee, -by Thy name which Thou hast raised up above every -other name, -and hast caused to overshadow all that are in heaven and all -that are on earth, -to cast not away him that hath turned towards Thee, -and -to deny him not the wonders of Thy grace and the hidden evidences of Thy -mercy. -Let the hands of Thine omnipotence kindle in his heart a lamp that -will enable him to shine brightly in Thy days, -and to cry out with such -vehemence in Thy name that no timidity will deter him from soaring in the -atmosphere of Thy love, -and from ascending to the horizon of rapture and -longing for Thee, -and that the pursuits of Thy creatures will not withhold -him from magnifying Thy word, -that Thou mayest behold him sanctified as -Thou wishest and as beseemeth Thy majesty and glory. - - -Exalted though this station may be, -O my God, -and however excellent this -position--for who else except Thyself hath the power to show forth what may -be deemed worthy of Thine exaltation and befit Thy greatness--yet Thou art -He Who is the All-Bountiful, -the Most Compassionate. -All the atoms of the -earth testify that Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Benevolent, -the Great -Giver, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. -Look, -then, -upon him, -O my God, - -with the eyes of Thy loving-kindness, -and cast upon him the glance of Thy -generosity. -Enrapture him, -moreover, -with the sweet melodies of Him Who is -the Fountain-Head of Thy Revelation, -in such wise that he may wholly -surrender his will to Thy pleasure, -and fix his hopes upon the things Thou -didst ordain in Thy Tablets. -Strengthen, -then, -his heart by Thy name, -the -Almighty, -the Faithful, -that he may draw forth the hand of power, -and with -it help Thy Cause when the light of Thy beauty is manifested and the -Day-Star of Thy majesty is risen. - - -Since Thou hast called him by Thy name, -O my Lord, -single him out among -Thy servants for Thy service. -Thou well knowest, -O my Lord, -that in -revealing myself I have sought only to reveal Thy Cause, -and have turned -to no one except for the sake of Thy Revelation and for the purpose of -manifesting Thy loving-kindness. -I beseech Thee, -by Thy treasured Name -Who, -at this very moment, -is speaking, -to send down upon him and upon them -that love Thee that which is enshrined in the heaven of Thy favor and -bounties, -that they may be filled with vehement longing towards Thee, -and -exult in Thy Covenant, -O Thou Who art the Lord of Lords! -Ordain, -then, -for -him and for them that which becometh Thy name, -the All-Bountiful. - - -Thou art, -in truth, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the Most Powerful, -the -All-Glorious, -the Most Great. - - - - - - - - -My God, -my Fire and my Light! -The days which Thou hast named the -Ayyám-i-Há (the Days of Há, -Intercalary days) in Thy Book have begun, -O -Thou Who art the King of names, -and the fast which Thy most exalted Pen -hath enjoined unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation to observe -is approaching. -I entreat Thee, -O my Lord, -by these days and by all such -as have during that period clung to the cord of Thy commandments, -and laid -hold on the handle of Thy precepts, -to grant that unto every soul may be -assigned a place within the precincts of Thy court, -and a seat at the -revelation of the splendors of the light of Thy countenance. - - -These, -O my Lord, -are Thy servants whom no corrupt inclination hath kept -back from what Thou didst send down in Thy Book. -They have bowed -themselves before Thy Cause, -and received Thy Book with such resolve as is -born of Thee, -and observed what Thou hadst prescribed unto them, -and -chosen to follow that which had been sent down by Thee. - - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -how they have recognized and confessed whatsoever -Thou hast revealed in Thy Scriptures. -Give them to drink, -O my Lord, -from -the hands of Thy graciousness the waters of Thine eternity. -Write down, - -then, -for them the recompense ordained for him that hath immersed himself -in the ocean of Thy presence, -and attained unto the choice wine of Thy -meeting. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou the King of kings and the Pitier of the -downtrodden, -to ordain for them the good of this world and of the world to -come. -Write down for them, -moreover, -what none of Thy creatures hath -discovered, -and number them with those who have circled round Thee, -and -who move about Thy throne in every world of Thy worlds. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the Almighty, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Informed. - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God, -that Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival -unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from -all that is abhorrent unto Thee. -Grant, -O my Lord, -that the fire of Thy -love and the heat produced by the fast enjoined by Thee may inflame them -in Thy Cause, -and make them to be occupied with Thy praise and with -remembrance of Thee. - - -Since Thou hast adorned them, -O my Lord, -with the ornament of the fast -prescribed by Thee, -do Thou adorn them also with the ornament of Thine -acceptance, -through Thy grace and bountiful favor. -For the doings of men -are all dependent upon Thy good-pleasure, -and are conditioned by Thy -behest. -Shouldst Thou regard him who hath broken the fast as one who hath -observed it, -such a man would be reckoned among them who from eternity had -been keeping the fast. -And shouldst Thou decree that he who hath observed -the fast hath broken it, -that person would be numbered with such as have -caused the Robe of Thy Revelation to be stained with dust, -and been far -removed from the crystal waters of this living Fountain. - - -Thou art He through Whom the ensign "Praiseworthy art Thou in Thy works" -hath been lifted up, -and the standard "Obeyed art Thou in Thy behest" hath -been unfurled. -Make known this Thy station, -O my God, -unto Thy servants, - -that they may be made aware that the excellence of all things is dependent -upon Thy bidding and Thy word, -and the virtue of every act is conditioned -by Thy leave and the good-pleasure of Thy will, -and may recognize that the -reins of men's doings are within the grasp of Thine acceptance and Thy -commandment. -Make this known unto them, -that nothing whatsoever may shut -them out from Thy Beauty, -in these days whereon the Christ exclaimeth: - -"All dominion is Thine, -O Thou the Begetter of the Spirit (Jesus)"; -and -Thy Friend (Muhammad) crieth out: -"Glory be to Thee, -O Thou the -Best-Beloved, -for that Thou hast uncovered Thy Beauty, -and written down -for Thy chosen ones what will cause them to attain unto the seat of the -revelation of Thy Most Great Name, -through which all the peoples have -lamented except such as have detached themselves from all else except -Thee, -and set themselves towards Him Who is the Revealer of Thyself and -the Manifestation of Thine attributes. -" - -He Who is Thy Branch and all Thy company, -O my Lord, -have broken this day -their fast, -after having observed it within the precincts of Thy court, - -and in their eagerness to please Thee. -Do Thou ordain for him, -and for -them, -and for all such as have entered Thy presence in those days all the -good Thou didst destine in Thy Book. -Supply them, -then, -with that which -will profit them, -in both this life and in the life beyond. - - -Thou, -in truth, -art the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -O Thou the Lord of the visible and the invisible, -and the Enlightener of -all creation! -I beseech Thee, -by Thy sovereignty which is hid from the -eyes of men, -to reveal in all directions the signs of Thy manifold -blessings and the tokens of Thy loving-kindness, -that I may arise with -exultation and rapture and extol Thy wondrous virtues, -O Thou the Most -Merciful, -and stir up by Thy name all created things, -and so kindle the -fire of Thy glorification amidst Thy creatures, -that all the world may be -filled with the brightness of the light of Thy glory, -and all existence be -inflamed with the fire of Thy Cause. - - -Roll not up, -O my Lord, -what hath been spread out in Thy name, -and -extinguish not the lamp which Thine own fire hath lit. -Withhold not, -O my -Lord, -the water that is life indeed from running down--the water from whose -murmuring the wondrous melodies which extol and glorify Thee can be heard. - -Deny not, -moreover, -Thy servants the sweet fragrance of the breath which -hath been wafted through Thy love. - - -Thou seest, -O Thou Who art my All-Glorious Beloved, -the restless waves -that surge within the ocean of my heart, -in my love and yearning towards -Thee. -I implore Thee, -by the signs of Thy majesty and the evidences of Thy -sovereignty, -to subdue Thy servants by this Name Which Thou hast made to -be the King of all names in the kingdom of Thy creation. -Potent art Thou -to rule as Thou pleasest. -No God is there but Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the -All-Bountiful. - - -Do Thou ordain, -moreover, -for every one who hath turned towards Thee what -will make him steadfast in Thy Cause, -in such wise that neither the vain -imaginations of the infidels among Thy creatures, -nor the idle talk of the -froward amidst Thy servants will have the power to shut him out from Thee. - -Thou, -verily, -art the Help in Peril, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - - -Unto Thee be praise, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name -Who hath been shut up in the prison-town of Akká, -and Who--as Thou -beholdest, -O my God--hath fallen into the hands of His enemies, -and is -threatened by the swords of the wicked doers, -to make me steadfast in His -Cause, -and to direct mine eyes continually towards His court, -in such wise -that nothing whatsoever will have the power to turn me back from Him. - - -I testify, -O my Lord, -that He hath surrendered His life in Thy path, -and -hath wished for Himself nothing but tribulation in the love He beareth to -Thee. -He hath endured all manner of vexations that He may manifest Thy -sovereignty unto Thy servants, -and exalt Thy word amidst Thy creatures. -As -the adversities deepened, -and the troubles sent down by Thee compassed Him -on every side, -He became so impassioned by His thought of Thee, -that the -hosts of all them that had disbelieved in Thee and repudiated Thy signs -ceased to affright Him. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Him and by whatsoever pertaineth unto Him, - -to set my affections upon Him even as He hath set His own affections upon -Thyself. -I testify that His love is Thy love, -and His self Thy self, -and -His beauty Thy beauty, -and His Cause Thy Cause. - - -Deny me not, -O my Lord, -what is with Thee, -and suffer me not to be -forgetful of what Thou didst desire in Thy days. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -I entreat Thee by Thy Name through -which the Hour hath struck, -and the Resurrection came to pass, -and fear -and trembling seized all that are in heaven and all that are on earth, -to -rain down, -out of the heaven of Thy mercy and the clouds of Thy tender -compassion, -what will gladden the hearts of Thy servants, -who have turned -towards Thee and helped Thy Cause. - - -Keep safe Thy servants and Thy handmaidens, -O my Lord, -from the darts of -idle fancy and vain imaginings, -and give them from the hands of Thy grace -a draught of the soft-flowing waters of Thy knowledge. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the -Most Generous. - - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O my God! -Thou hearest Thine ardent lovers lamenting in -their separation from Thee, -and such as have recognized Thee wailing -because of their remoteness from Thy presence. -Open Thou outwardly to -their faces, -O my Lord, -the gates of Thy grace, -that they may enter them -by Thy leave and in conformity with Thy will, -and may stand before the -throne of Thy majesty, -and catch the accents of Thy voice, -and be -illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy face. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -None can withstand the power of -Thy sovereign might. -From everlasting Thou wert alone, -with none to equal -Thee, -and wilt unto everlasting remain far above all thought and every -description of Thee. -Have mercy, -then, -upon Thy servants by Thy grace and -bounty, -and suffer them not to be kept back from the shores of the ocean -of Thy nearness. -If Thou abandonest them, -who is there to befriend them; - -and if Thou puttest them far from Thee, -who is he that can favor them? - -They have none other Lord beside Thee, -none to adore except Thyself. -Deal -Thou generously with them by Thy bountiful grace. - - -Thou, -in truth, -art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - -Thou dost witness, -O my God, -how He Who is Thy splendor calleth Thee to -remembrance, -notwithstanding the manifold troubles that have touched Him, - -troubles which none except Thee can number. -Thou beholdest how, -in His -prison-house, -He recounteth Thy wondrous praises with which Thou didst -inspire Him. -Such is His fervor that His enemies are powerless to deter -Him from mentioning Thee, -O Thou Who art the Possessor of all names! - - -Praised be Thou that Thou hast so strengthened Him with Thy strength, -and -endowed Him by Thine almighty power with such potency, -that aught save -Thee is in His estimation but a handful of dust. -The lights of unfading -splendor have so enveloped Him that all else but Thee is in His eyes but a -shadow. - - -And when Thine irresistible summons reached me, -I arose, -fortified by Thy -strength, -and called all that are in Thy heaven and all that are on Thy -earth to turn in the direction of Thy favors and the horizon of Thy -bounties. -Some caviled at me, -and determined to hurt me and slay me. - -Others drank to the full of the wine of Thy grace, -and hastened towards -the habitation of Thy throne. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Creator of earth and heaven and the -Source of all things, -to attract Thy servants through the fragrances of -the Robe of Thine Inspiration and Thy Revelation, -and to help them attain -the Tabernacle of Thy behest and power. -From eternity Thou wert by Thy -transcendent might supreme over all things, -and Thou wilt be exalted unto -eternity in Thy Godhead and surpassing sovereignty. - - -Let Thy mercy, -then, -be upon Thy servants and Thy creatures. -Thou art, -in -truth, -the Almighty, -the Inaccessible, -the All-Glorious, -the -Unconditioned. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -I entreat Thee by the fragrances of the -Raiment of Thy grace which at Thy bidding and in conformity with Thy -desire were diffused throughout the entire creation, -and by the Day-Star -of Thy will that hath shone brightly, -through the power of Thy might and -of Thy sovereignty, -above the horizon of Thy mercy, -to blot out from my -heart all idle fancies and vain imaginings, -that with all my affections I -may turn unto Thee, -O Thou Lord of all mankind! - - -I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, -O my God! -I have laid hold on -the handle of Thy grace, -and clung to the cord of Thy tender mercy. -Ordain -for me the good things that are with Thee, -and nourish me from the Table -Thou didst send down out of the clouds of Thy bounty and the heaven of Thy -favor. - - -Thou, -in very truth, -art the Lord of the worlds, -and the God of all that -are in heaven and all that are on earth. - - - - - - - - -I know not, -O my God, -what the Fire is which Thou didst kindle in Thy -land. -Earth can never cloud its splendor, -nor water quench its flame. -All -the peoples of the world are powerless to resist its force. -Great is the -blessedness of him that hath drawn nigh unto it, -and heard its roaring. - - -Some, -O my God, -Thou didst, -through Thy strengthening grace, -enable to -approach it, -while others Thou didst keep back by reason of what their -hands have wrought in Thy days. -Whoso hath hasted towards it and attained -unto it hath, -in his eagerness to gaze on Thy beauty, -yielded his life in -Thy path, -and ascended unto Thee, -wholly detached from aught else except -Thyself. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by this Fire which blazeth and rageth in the -world of creation, -to rend asunder the veils that have hindered me from -appearing before the throne of Thy majesty, -and from standing at the door -of Thy gate. -Do Thou ordain for me, -O my Lord, -every good thing Thou didst -send down in Thy Book, -and suffer me not to be far removed from the -shelter of Thy mercy. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the -All-Powerful, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -Aid Thou by Thy strengthening grace Thy -servants and Thy handmaidens to recount Thy virtues and to be steadfast in -their love towards Thee. -How many the leaves which the tempests of trials -have caused to fall, -and how many, -too, -are those which, -clinging -tenaciously to the tree of Thy Cause, -have remained unshaken by the tests -that have assailed them, -O Thou Who art our Lord, -the Most Merciful! - - -I render Thee thanks that Thou hast made known unto me such servants as -have utterly abolished, -by the power of Thy might and of Thy sovereignty, - -the idols of their corrupt desires, -and were not kept back by the things -which are possessed by Thy creatures from turning in the direction of Thy -grace. -These have so vehemently rent the veils asunder that the dwellers -of the cities of self have wept, -and fear and trembling seized the people -of envy and wickedness who, -adorning their heads and their bodies with the -emblems of knowledge, -have proudly rejected Thee and turned away from Thy -beauty. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy surpassing majesty and Thine Ancient -Name, -to enable Thy loved ones to assist Thee. -Direct, -then, -continually -their faces towards Thy face, -and write down for them what will cause all -hearts to exult and all eyes to be gladdened. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the Help in peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -O God! -The trials Thou sendest are a salve to the sores of all them who -are devoted to Thy will; -the remembrance of Thee is a healing medicine to -the hearts of such as have drawn nigh unto Thy court; -nearness to Thee is -the true life of them who are Thy lovers; -Thy presence is the ardent -desire of such as yearn to behold Thy face; -remoteness from Thee is a -torment to those that have acknowledged Thy oneness, -and separation from -Thee is death unto them that have recognized Thy truth! - - -I beseech Thee by the sighs which they whose souls pant after Thee have -uttered in their remoteness from Thy court, -and by the cries of such of -Thy lovers as bemoan their separation from Thee, -to nourish me with the -wine of Thy knowledge and the living waters of Thy love and pleasure. - -Behold Thy handmaiden, -O my Lord, -who hath forgotten all else except Thee, - -and who hath delighted herself with Thy love, -and lamented over the things -that have befallen Thee at the hands of the wicked doers among Thy -creatures. -Do Thou ordain for her that which Thou didst ordain for such of -Thy handmaidens as circle round the throne of Thy majesty, -and gaze, -at -eventide and at dawn, -on Thy beauty. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Lord of the Judgment Day. - - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -These are the days whereon Thou hast -bidden all men to observe the fast, -that through it they may purify their -souls and rid themselves of all attachment to any one but Thee, -and that -out of their hearts may ascend that which will be worthy of the court of -Thy majesty and may well beseem the seat of the revelation of Thy oneness. - -Grant, -O my Lord, -that this fast may become a river of life-giving waters -and may yield the virtue wherewith Thou hast endowed it. -Cleanse Thou by -its means the hearts of Thy servants whom the evils of the world have -failed to hinder from turning towards Thine all-glorious Name, -and who -have remained unmoved by the noise and tumult of such as have repudiated -Thy most resplendent signs which have accompanied the advent of Thy -Manifestation Whom Thou hast invested with Thy sovereignty, -Thy power, -Thy -majesty and glory. -These are the servants who, -as soon as Thy call reached -them, -hastened in the direction of Thy mercy and were not kept back from -Thee by the changes and chances of this world or by any human limitations. - - -I am he, -O my God, -who testifieth to Thy unity, -who acknowledgeth Thy -oneness, -who boweth humbly before the revelations of Thy majesty, -and who -recognizeth with downcast countenance the splendors of the light of Thy -transcendent glory. -I have believed in Thee after Thou didst enable me to -know Thy Self, -Whom Thou hast revealed to men's eyes through the power of -Thy sovereignty and might. -Unto Him I have turned, -wholly detached from -all things, -and cleaving steadfastly unto the cord of Thy gifts and -favors. -I have embraced His truth, -and the truth of all the wondrous laws -and precepts that have been sent down unto Him. -I have fasted for love of -Thee and in pursuance of Thine injunction, -and have broken my fast with -Thy praise on my tongue and in conformity with Thy pleasure. -Suffer me -not, -O my Lord, -to be reckoned among them who have fasted in the daytime, - -who in the night-season have prostrated themselves before Thy face, -and -who have repudiated Thy truth, -disbelieved in Thy signs, -gainsaid Thy -testimony, -and perverted Thine utterances. - - -Open Thou, -O my Lord, -mine eyes and the eyes of all them that have sought -Thee, -that we may recognize Thee with Thine own eyes. -This is Thy bidding -given us in the Book sent down by Thee unto Him Whom Thou hast chosen by -Thy behest, -Whom Thou hast singled out for Thy favor above all Thy -creatures, -Whom Thou hast been pleased to invest with Thy sovereignty, -and -Whom Thou hast specially favored and entrusted with Thy Message unto Thy -people. -Praised be Thou, -therefore, -O my God, -inasmuch as Thou hast -graciously enabled us to recognize Him and to acknowledge whatsoever hath -been sent down unto Him, -and conferred upon us the honor of attaining the -presence of the One Whom Thou didst promise in Thy Book and in Thy -Tablets. - - -Thou seest me then, -O my God, -with my face turned towards Thee, -cleaving -steadfastly to the cord of Thy gracious providence and generosity, -and -clinging to the hem of Thy tender mercies and bountiful favors. -Destroy -not, -I implore Thee, -my hopes of attaining unto that which Thou didst -ordain for Thy servants who have turned towards the precincts of Thy court -and the sanctuary of Thy presence, -and have observed the fast for love of -Thee. -I confess, -O my God, -that whatever proceedeth from me is wholly -unworthy of Thy sovereignty and falleth short of Thy majesty. -And yet I -beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast revealed Thy Self, -in the -glory of Thy most excellent titles, -unto all created things, -in this -Revelation whereby Thou hast, -through Thy most resplendent Name, - -manifested Thy beauty, -to give me to drink of the wine of Thy mercy and of -the pure beverage of Thy favor, -which have streamed forth from the right -hand of Thy will, -that I may so fix my gaze upon Thee and be so detached -from all else but Thee, -that the world and all that hath been created -therein may appear before me as a fleeting day which Thou hast not deigned -to create. - - -I moreover entreat Thee, -O my God, -to rain down, -from the heaven of Thy -will and the clouds of Thy mercy, -that which will cleanse us from the -noisome savors of our transgressions, -O Thou Who hast called Thyself the -God of Mercy! -Thou art, -verily, -the Most Powerful, -the All-Glorious, -the -Beneficent. - - -Cast not away, -O my Lord, -him that hath turned towards Thee, -nor suffer -him who hath drawn nigh unto Thee to be removed far from Thy court. -Dash -not the hopes of the suppliant who hath longingly stretched out his hands -to seek Thy grace and favors, -and deprive not Thy sincere servants of the -wonders of Thy tender mercies and loving-kindness. -Forgiving and Most -Bountiful art Thou, -O my Lord! -Power hast Thou to do what Thou pleasest. - -All else but Thee are impotent before the revelations of Thy might, -are as -lost in the face of the evidences of Thy wealth, -are as nothing when -compared with the manifestations of Thy transcendent sovereignty, -and are -destitute of all strength when face to face with the signs and tokens of -Thy power. -What refuge is there beside Thee, -O my Lord, -to which I can -flee, -and where is there a haven to which I can hasten? -Nay, -the power of -Thy might beareth me witness! -No protector is there but Thee, -no place to -flee to except Thee, -no refuge to seek save Thee. -Cause me to taste, -O my -Lord, -the divine sweetness of Thy remembrance and praise. -I swear by Thy -might! -Whosoever tasteth of its sweetness will rid himself of all -attachment to the world and all that is therein, -and will set his face -towards Thee, -cleansed from the remembrance of any one except Thee. - - -Inspire then my soul, -O my God, -with Thy wondrous remembrance, -that I may -glorify Thy name. -Number me not with them who read Thy words and fail to -find Thy hidden gift which, -as decreed by Thee, -is contained therein, -and -which quickeneth the souls of Thy creatures and the hearts of Thy -servants. -Cause me, -O my Lord, -to be reckoned among them who have been so -stirred up by the sweet savors that have been wafted in Thy days that they -have laid down their lives for Thee and hastened to the scene of their -death in their longing to gaze on Thy beauty and in their yearning to -attain Thy presence. -And were any one to say unto them on their way, - -"Whither go ye? -" they would say, -"Unto God, -the All-Possessing, -the Help -in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting! -" - -The transgressions committed by such as have turned away from Thee and -have borne themselves haughtily towards Thee have not availed to hinder -them from loving Thee, -and from setting their faces towards Thee, -and from -turning in the direction of Thy mercy. -These are they who are blessed by -the Concourse on high, -who are glorified by the denizens of the -everlasting Cities, -and beyond them by those on whose foreheads Thy most -exalted pen hath written: -"These! -The people of Bahá. -Through them have -been shed the splendors of the light of guidance. -" Thus hath it been -ordained, -at Thy behest and by Thy will, -in the Tablet of Thine -irrevocable decree. - - -Proclaim, -therefore, -O my God, -their greatness and the greatness of those -who while living or after death have circled round them. -Supply them with -that which Thou hast ordained for the righteous among Thy creatures. - -Potent art Thou to do all things. -There is no God but Thee, -the -All-Powerful, -the Help in Peril, -the Almighty, -the Most Bountiful. - - -Do not bring our fasts to an end with this fast, -O my Lord, -nor the -covenants Thou hast made with this covenant. -Do Thou accept all that we -have done for love of Thee, -and for the sake of Thy pleasure, -and all that -we have left undone as a result of our subjection to our evil and corrupt -desires. -Enable us, -then, -to cleave steadfastly to Thy love and Thy -good-pleasure, -and preserve us from the mischief of such as have denied -Thee and repudiated Thy most resplendent signs. -Thou art, -in truth, -the -Lord of this world and of the next. -No God is there beside Thee, -the -Exalted, -the Most High. - - -Magnify Thou, -O Lord my God, -Him Who is the Primal Point, -the Divine -Mystery, -the Unseen Essence, -the Day-Spring of Divinity, -and the -Manifestation of Thy Lordship, -through Whom all the knowledge of the past -and all the knowledge of the future were made plain, -through Whom the -pearls of Thy hidden wisdom were uncovered, -and the mystery of Thy -treasured name disclosed, -Whom Thou hast appointed as the Announcer of the -One through Whose name the letter B and the letter E have been joined and -united, -through Whom Thy majesty, -Thy sovereignty and Thy might were made -known, -through Whom Thy words have been sent down, -and Thy laws set forth -with clearness, -and Thy signs spread abroad, -and Thy Word established, - -through Whom the hearts of Thy chosen ones were laid bare, -and all that -were in the heavens and all that were on the earth were gathered together, - -Whom Thou hast called 'Alí-Muhammad in the kingdom of Thy names, -and the -Spirit of Spirits in the Tablets of Thine irrevocable decree, -Whom Thou -hast invested with Thine own title, -unto Whose name all other names have, - -at Thy bidding and through the power of Thy might, -been made to return, - -and in Whom Thou hast caused all Thine attributes and titles to attain -their final consummation. -To Him also belong such names as lay hid within -Thy stainless tabernacles, -in Thine invisible world and Thy sanctified -cities. - - -Magnify Thou, -moreover, -such as have believed in Him and in His signs and -have turned towards Him, -from among those that have acknowledged Thy unity -in His Latter Manifestation--a Manifestation whereof He hath made mention -in His Tablets, -and in His Books, -and in His Scriptures, -and in all the -wondrous verses and gem-like utterances that have descended upon Him. -It -is this same Manifestation Whose covenant Thou hast bidden Him establish -ere He had established His own covenant. -He it is Whose praise the Bayán -hath celebrated. -In it His excellence hath been extolled, -and His truth -established, -and His sovereignty proclaimed, -and His Cause perfected. - -Blessed is the man that hath turned unto Him, -and fulfilled the things He -hath commanded, -O Thou Who art the Lord of the worlds and the Desire of -all them that have known Thee! - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God, -inasmuch as Thou hast aided us to recognize and -love Him. -I, -therefore, -beseech Thee by Him and by Them Who are the -Day-Springs of Thy Divinity, -and the Manifestations of Thy Lordship, -and -the Treasuries of Thy Revelation, -and the Depositories of Thine -inspiration, -to enable us to serve and obey Him, -and to empower us to -become the helpers of His Cause and the dispersers of His adversaries. - -Powerful art Thou to do all that pleaseth Thee. -No God is there beside -Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the One Whose help is sought by all -men! - - - - - - - - -God testifieth to the unity of His Godhood and to the singleness of His -own Being. -On the throne of eternity, -from the inaccessible heights of His -station, -His tongue proclaimeth that there is none other God but Him. -He -Himself, -independently of all else, -hath ever been a witness unto His own -oneness, -the revealer of His own nature, -the glorifier of His own essence. - -He, -verily, -is the All-Powerful, -the Almighty, -the Beauteous. - - -He is supreme over His servants, -and standeth over His creatures. -In His -hand is the source of authority and truth. -He maketh men alive by His -signs, -and causeth them to die through His wrath. -He shall not be asked of -His doings and His might is equal unto all things. -He is the Potent, -the -All-Subduing. -He holdeth within His grasp the empire of all things, -and on -His right hand is fixed the Kingdom of His Revelation. -His power, -verily, - -embraceth the whole of creation. -Victory and overlordship are His; -all -might and dominion are His; -all glory and greatness are His. -He, -of a -truth, -is the All-Glorious, -the Most Powerful, -the Unconditioned. - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -to Whom the tongues of all created things have, -from -eternity, -called, -and yet failed to attain the heaven of Thine eternal -holiness and grandeur. -The eyes of all beings have been opened to behold -the beauty of Thy radiant countenance, -yet none hath succeeded in gazing -on the brightness of the light of Thy face. -The hands of them that are -nigh unto Thee have, -ever since the foundation of Thy glorious sovereignty -and the establishment of Thy holy dominion, -been raised suppliantly -towards Thee, -yet no one hath been able to touch the hem of the robe that -clotheth Thy Divine and sovereign Essence. -And yet none can deny that Thou -hast ever been, -through the wonders of Thy generosity and bounty, -supreme -over all things, -art powerful to do all things, -and art nearer unto all -things than they are unto themselves. - - -Far be it, -then, -from Thy glory that anyone should gaze on Thy wondrous -beauty with any eye save Thine own eye, -or hear the melodies proclaiming -Thine almighty sovereignty with any ear except Thine own ear. -Too high art -Thou exalted for the eye of any creature to behold Thy beauty, -or for the -understanding of any heart to scale the heights of Thine immeasurable -knowledge. -For should the birds of the hearts of them that are nigh unto -Thee be ever enabled to soar as long as Thine own overpowering sovereignty -can endure, -or to ascend as long as the empire of Thy Divine holiness can -last, -they shall, -in no wise, -be able to transcend the limitations which a -contingent world hath imposed upon them, -nor pass beyond its confines. - -How, -then, -can he whose very creation is restricted by such limitations, - -attain unto Him Who is the Lord of the Kingdom of all created things, -or -ascend into the heaven of Him Who ruleth the realms of loftiness and -grandeur? - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou, -my Best-Beloved! -Inasmuch as -Thou hast ordained that the utmost limit to which they who lift their -hearts to Thee can rise is the confession of their powerlessness to enter -the realms of Thy holy and transcendent unity, -and that the highest -station which they who aspire to know Thee can reach is the acknowledgment -of their impotence to attain the retreats of Thy sublime knowledge I, - -therefore, -beseech Thee, -by this very powerlessness which is beloved of -Thee, -and which Thou hast decreed as the goal of them that have reached -and attained Thy court, -and by the splendors of Thy countenance that have -encompassed all things, -and by the energies of Thy Will whereby the entire -creation hath been generated, -not to deprive them that have set their -hopes in Thee of the wonders of Thy mercy, -nor to withhold from such as -have sought Thee the treasures of Thy grace. -Ignite, -then, -within their -hearts the torch of Thy love, -that its flame may consume all else except -their wondrous remembrance of Thee, -and that no trace may be left in those -hearts except the gem-like evidences of Thy most holy sovereignty, -so that -from the land wherein they dwell no voice may be heard except the voice -that extolleth Thy mercifulness and might, -that on the earth on which they -walk no light may shine except the light of Thy beauty, -and that within -every soul naught may be discovered except the revelation of Thy -countenance and the tokens of Thy glory, -that haply Thy servants may show -forth only that which shall please Thee and shall conform wholly unto Thy -most potent will. - - -Glory be to Thee, -O my God! -The power of Thy might beareth me witness! -I -can have no doubt that should the holy breaths of Thy loving-kindness and -the breeze of Thy bountiful favor cease, -for less than the twinkling of an -eye, -to breathe over all created things, -the entire creation would perish, - -and all that are in heaven and on earth would be reduced to utter -nothingness. -Magnified, -therefore, -be the marvelous evidences of Thy -transcendent power! -Magnified be the potency of Thine exalted might! - -Magnified be the majesty of Thine all-encompassing greatness, -and the -energizing influence of Thy will! -Such is Thy greatness that wert Thou to -concentrate the eyes of all men in the eye of one of Thy servants, -and to -compress all their hearts within his heart, -and wert Thou to enable him to -behold within himself all the things Thou hast created through Thy power -and fashioned through Thy might, -and were he to ponder, -throughout -eternity, -over the realms of Thy creation and the range of Thy handiwork, - -he would unfailingly discover that there is no created thing but is -overshadowed by Thine all-conquering power, -and is vitalized through Thine -all-embracing sovereignty. - - -Behold me, -then, -O my God, -fallen prostrate upon the dust before Thee, - -confessing my powerlessness and Thine omnipotence, -my poverty and Thy -wealth, -mine evanescence and Thine eternity, -mine utter abasement and -Thine infinite glory. -I recognize that there is none other God but Thee, - -that Thou hast no peer nor partner, -none to equal or rival Thee. -In Thine -unapproachable loftiness Thou hast, -from eternity, -been exalted above the -praise of any one but Thee, -and shalt continue for ever, -in Thy -transcendent singleness and glory, -to be sanctified from the glorification -of any one except Thine own Self. - - -I swear by Thy might, -O my Beloved! -To make mention of any created thing -beseemeth not Thy most exalted Self, -and to bestow any praise upon any one -of Thy creatures would be wholly unworthy of Thy great glory. -Nay, -such a -mention would be but blasphemy uttered within the court of Thy holiness, - -and such praise would amount to no less than a transgression in the face -of the evidences of Thy Divine sovereignty. -For the mere mention of any -one of Thy creatures would in itself imply an assertion of their existence -before the court of Thy singleness and unity. -Such an assertion would be -naught but open blasphemy, -an act of impiety, -the essence of profanity and -a wanton crime. - - -Wherefore, -I bear witness with my soul, -my spirit, -my entire being, -that -should They Who are the Day-Springs of Thy most holy unity and the -Manifestations of Thy transcendent oneness be able to soar so long as -Thine own sovereignty endureth and Thine all-compelling authority can -last, -they will fail in the end to attain unto even the precincts of the -court wherein Thou didst reveal the effulgence of but one of Thy most -mighty Names. -Glorified, -glorified be, -therefore, -Thy wondrous majesty. - -Glorified, -glorified be Thine unattainable loftiness. -Glorified, -glorified -be the préeminence of Thy kingship and the sublimity of Thine authority -and power. - - -The highest faculties which the learned have possessed, -and whatsoever -truths they, -in their search after the gems of Thy knowledge, -have -discovered; -the brightest realities with which the wise have been endowed, - -and whatever secrets they, -in their attempts to fathom the mysteries of -Thy wisdom, -have unraveled, -have all been created through the generative -power of the Spirit that was breathed into the Pen which Thy hands have -fashioned. -How, -then, -can the thing which Thy Pen hath created be capable -of comprehending those treasures of Thy Faith with which, -as decreed by -Thee, -that Pen hath been invested? -How can it ever know of the Fingers -that grasp Thy Pen, -and of Thy merciful favors with which it hath been -endowed? -How can it, -already unable to reach this station, -be made aware -of the existence of Thy Hand that controlleth the Fingers of Thy might? - -How can it attain unto the comprehension of the nature of Thy Will that -animateth the movement of Thy Hand? - - -Glorified, -glorified be Thou, -O my God! -How can I ever hope to ascend into -the heaven of Thy most holy will, -or gain admittance into the tabernacle -of Thy Divine knowledge, -knowing as I do that the minds of the wise and -learned are impotent to fathom the secrets of Thy handiwork--a handiwork -which is itself but a creation of Thy will? - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord, -my God, -my Master, -my Possessor, -my King. -Now -that I have confessed unto Thee my powerlessness and the powerlessness of -all created things, -and have acknowledged my poverty and the poverty of -the entire creation, -I call unto Thee with my tongue and the tongues of -all that are in heaven and on earth, -and beseech Thee with my heart and -the hearts of all that have entered beneath the shadow of Thy names and -Thine attributes, -not to shut us from the doors of Thy loving-kindness and -grace, -nor to suffer the breeze of Thy bountiful care and favor to cease -from being wafted over our souls, -nor to permit that our hearts be -occupied with any one except Thee, -or our minds to be busied with any -remembrance save remembrance of Thy Self. - - -By the glory of Thy might, -O my God! -Wert Thou to set me king over Thy -realms, -and to establish me upon the throne of Thy sovereignty, -and to -deliver, -through Thy power, -the reins of the entire creation into my -hands, -and wert Thou to cause me, -though it be for less than a moment, -to -be occupied with these things and be oblivious of the wondrous memories -associated with Thy most mighty, -most perfect, -and most exalted Name, -my -soul would still remain unsatisfied, -and the pangs of my heart unstilled. - -Nay, -I would, -in that very state, -recognize myself as the poorest of the -poor, -and the most wretched of the wretched. - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O my God! -Now that Thou hast caused me to apprehend -this truth, -I beseech Thee by Thy Name which no scroll can bear, -which no -heart can imagine and no tongue can utter--a Name which will remain -concealed so long as Thine own Essence is hidden, -and will be glorified so -long as Thine own Being is extolled--to unfurl, -ere the present year draw -to a close, -the ensigns of Thine undisputed ascendancy and triumph, -that -the whole creation may be enriched by Thy wealth, -and may be exalted -through the ennobling influence of Thy transcendent sovereignty, -and that -all may arise and promote Thy Cause. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the All-Highest, -the All-Glorious, -the -All-Subduing, -the All-Possessing. - - - - - - - - -All praise, -O my God, -be to Thee Who art the Source of all glory and -majesty, -of greatness and honor, -of sovereignty and dominion, -of loftiness -and grace, -of awe and power. -Whomsoever Thou willest Thou causest to draw -nigh unto the Most Great Ocean, -and on whomsoever Thou desirest Thou -conferrest the honor of recognizing Thy Most Ancient Name. -Of all who are -in heaven and on earth, -none can withstand the operation of Thy sovereign -Will. -From all eternity Thou didst rule the entire creation, -and Thou wilt -continue for evermore to exercise Thy dominion over all created things. - -There is none other God but Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the -All-Powerful, -the All-Wise. - - -Illumine, -O Lord, -the faces of Thy servants, -that they may behold Thee; - -and cleanse their hearts that they may turn unto the court of Thy heavenly -favors, -and recognize Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self and the -Day-Spring of Thine Essence. -Verily, -Thou art the Lord of all worlds. - -There is no God but Thee, -the Unconstrained, -the All-Subduing. - - - - - - - -Glorified be Thou, -O my God! -Behold Thou my head ready to fall before the -sword of Thy Will, -my neck prepared to bear the chains of Thy Desire, -my -heart yearning to be made a target for the darts of Thy Decree, -mine eyes -expectant to gaze on the tokens and signs of Thy wondrous Mercy. -For -whatsoever may befall me from Thee is the cherished desire of them who -thirst to meet Thee, -and the supreme aspiration of such as have drawn nigh -unto Thy court. - - -By the glory of Thy might, -O Thou my Well-Beloved! -To have sacrificed my -life for the Manifestations of Thy Self, -to have offered up my soul in the -path of the Revealers of Thy wondrous Beauty, -is to have sacrificed my -spirit for Thy Spirit, -my being for Thy Being, -my glory for Thy glory. -It -is as if I had offered up all these things for Thy sake, -and for the sake -of Thy loved ones. - - -Though my body be pained by the trials that befall me from Thee, -though it -be afflicted by the revelations of Thy Decree, -yet my soul rejoiceth at -having partaken of the waters of Thy Beauty, -and at having attained the -shores of the ocean of Thine eternity. -Doth it beseem a lover to flee from -his beloved, -or to desert the object of his heart's desire? -Nay, -we all -believe in Thee, -and eagerly hope to enter Thy presence. - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou dost witness that Thy will hath -prevailed over all created things, -and Thy mercy hath surpassed all who -are in heaven and on earth. -And when Thou didst purpose to unveil Thy -sovereignty, -and to glorify Thy word, -and to reveal Thy bounteousness and -mercy, -Thou didst raise up one of Thy servants, -and didst choose Him above -all Thy creatures, -and didst single Him out for Thy purpose, -and didst -clothe Him with the robe of Thy guidance, -and didst immerse Him beneath -the seas of Thy majesty and grandeur, -and didst sanctify Him from all that -beseemeth not the greatness of Thy glory and the power of Thy might, -and -didst bid Him to cry out before all that are in heaven and on earth, -and -summon the multitudes to the Manifestation of Thy Self and the Revealer of -Thy signs. - - -No sooner had He proclaimed Thy Cause, -and risen up to carry out the -things prescribed unto Him in the Tablets of Thy decree, -than the Great -Terror fell upon Thy creatures. -Some turned towards Thee, -and detached -themselves from all except Thee, -and sanctified their souls from the world -and all that is therein, -and were so enravished by the sweetness of Thy -voice that they forsook all Thou hadst created in the kingdom of Thy -creation. -Others recognized Thee and then hesitated, -others allowed the -world to come in between them and Thee and to withhold them from -recognizing Thee. -Others disdained Thee, -and turned back from Thee, -and -wished to prevent Thee from achieving Thy purpose. -And yet behold how all -of them are calling upon Thee, -and are expecting the things they were -promised in Thy Tablets. -And when the Promised One came unto them, -they -recognized Him not, -and disbelieved in Thy signs, -and repudiated Thy clear -tokens, -and strayed so grievously from Thy path that they slew Thy -servants, -through the brightness of whose faces the countenances of the -Concourse on high have been illumined. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names, -to guard Thy loved -ones against Thine enemies, -and to strengthen them in their love for Thee -and in fulfilling Thy pleasure. -Do Thou protect them, -that their footsteps -may slip not, -that their hearts may not be shut out as by a veil from -Thee, -and that their eyes may be restrained from beholding anything that -is not of Thee. -Cause them to be so enraptured by the sweetness of Thy -divine melodies that they will rid themselves of all attachment to any one -except Thee, -and will turn wholly towards Thee, -and extol Thee under all -conditions, -saying: -"Praised be Thou, -O Lord our God, -inasmuch as Thou -hast enabled us to recognize Thy most exalted and all-glorious Self. -We -will, -by Thy mercy, -cleave to Thee, -and will detach ourselves from any one -but Thee. -We have realized that Thou art the Beloved of the worlds and the -Creator of earth and heaven! -" - -Glorified be God, -the Lord of all creation! - - - - - - - -Lauded and glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou art He Who from -everlasting hath been clothed with majesty, -with authority and power, -and -will continue unto everlasting to be arrayed with honor, -with strength and -glory. -The learned, -one and all, -stand aghast before the signs and tokens -of Thy handiwork, -while the wise find themselves, -without exception, - -impotent to unravel the mystery of Them Who are the Manifestations of Thy -might and power. -Every man of insight hath confessed his powerlessness to -scale the heights of Thy knowledge, -and every man of learning hath -acknowledged his failure to fathom the nature of Thine Essence. - - -Having barred the way that leadeth unto Thee, -Thou hast, -by virtue of -Thine authority and through the potency of Thy will, -called into being -Them Who are the Manifestations of Thy Self, -and hast entrusted Them with -Thy message unto Thy people, -and caused Them to become the Day-Springs of -Thine inspiration, -the Exponents of Thy Revelation, -the Treasuries of Thy -Knowledge and the Repositories of Thy Faith, -that all men may, -through -Them, -turn their faces towards Thee, -and may draw nigh unto the kingdom of -Thy Revelation and the heaven of Thy grace. - - -I beseech Thee, -therefore, -by Thyself and by Them, -to send down, -from the -right hand of the throne of Thy grace, -upon all that dwell on earth, -that -which shall wash them from the stain of their trespasses against Thee, -and -cause them to become wholly devoted to Thy Self, -O Thou in Whose hand is -the source of all gifts, -that they may all arise to serve Thy Cause, -and -may detach themselves entirely from all except Thee. -Thou art the -Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Unrestrained. - - -O my God, -my Master, -my Best-Beloved! -I am Thy servant and the son of Thy -servant. -I have held fast the cord of Thy grace, -and clung to the hem of -the garment of Thy loving providence. -I entreat Thee, -by Thy Most Great -Name, -Whom Thou hast appointed as the unerring Balance among the nations, - -and Thine infallible Proof unto all men, -not to forsake me, -nor to abandon -me to my corrupt desires. -Do Thou preserve me beneath the shadow of Thy -Supreme Sinlessness, -and enable me to magnify Thine own Self amidst the -concourse of Thy creatures. -Withhold not from me the Divine fragrance of -Thy days, -and deprive me not of the sweet savors wafting from the -Day-Spring of Thy Revelation. -Bestow on me the good of this world and of -the next, -through the power of Thy grace that hath encompassed all created -things and Thy mercy that hath surpassed the entire creation. -Thou art He -Who holdeth in His grasp the kingdom of all things. -Thou doest what Thou -willest through Thy decree, -and choosest, -through the power of Thy might, - -whatsoever Thou desirest. -None can resist Thy will; -naught can exhaust the -impelling force of Thy command. -There is no God but Thee, -the Almighty, - -the All-Glorious, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Thou beholdest, -O my God, -Thy servant who dwelleth in this prison-house, - -wholly detached from any one but Thee, -his eyes turned in the direction of -the Day-Spring of Thy mercy, -his heart longing for the wondrous -manifestations of Thy grace. -Thou, -O my Lord, -hast reckoned up the ills -that have afflicted him in Thy path. -Thou seest him compassed about with -such of Thy creatures as have transgressed and rebelled against Thee, -who -have come in between him and Thy loved ones, -who have fixed his abode in -this land and wronged Thee, -and who have hindered Thy servants from -turning towards Thee. - - -For all these things I offer thanksgiving unto Thee, -O my Lord! -I implore -Thee to assist me and them that love me to magnify Thy Word, -and to endow -us with such strength that the ills of this world and its tribulations -will be powerless to hinder us from remembering Thee and from extolling -Thy virtues. -Powerful art Thou to do all things; -resplendent art Thou -above all things. - - -Every conqueror is but a serf whom Thy hand hath subjected, -and the -richest of the rich is as destitute before the immensity of Thy wealth. - -The noblest of nobles is humbled when faced with the manifestations of Thy -glory, -and the mightiest of potentates is a mere abject one when -confronted with the compelling evidences of Thine authority. - - -Tear asunder, -O my God, -the veil of vain imaginings that hath obscured the -vision of Thy people, -that all may haste towards Thee, -may tread the path -of Thy pleasure, -and walk in the ways of Thy Faith. -We are, -O my God, -Thy -servants and Thy bondsmen. -Thou art sufficient unto us so that we can -dispense with the world and all that is therein. -We are wholly satisfied -with all that hath befallen us in Thy path, -and exclaim: -"Praised be Thou, - -in Whose hand are the realms of revelation and of creation, -and all the -kingdoms of earth and heaven! -" - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God, -my Master! -Thou hearest the sighing of -those who, -though they long to behold Thy face, -are yet separated from -Thee and far distant from Thy court. -Thou testifiest to the lamentations -which those who have recognized Thee pour forth because of their exile -from Thee and their yearning to meet Thee. -I beseech Thee by those hearts -which contain naught except the treasures of Thy remembrance and praise, - -and which show forth only the testimonies of Thy greatness and the -evidences of Thy might, -to bestow on Thy servants who desire Thee power to -approach the seat of the revelation of the splendor of Thy glory and to -assist them whose hopes are set on Thee to enter into the tabernacle of -Thy transcendent favor and mercy. - - -Naked am I, -O my God! -Clothe me with the robe of Thy tender mercies. -I am -sore athirst; -give me to drink of the oceans of Thy bountiful favor. -I am -a stranger; -draw me nearer unto the source of Thy gifts. -I am sick; - -sprinkle upon me the healing waters of Thy grace. -I am a captive; -rid me -of my bondage, -by the power of Thy might and through the force of Thy -will, -that I may soar on the wings of detachment towards the loftiest -summits of Thy creation. -Thou, -verily, -doest what Thou choosest. -There is -no God but Thee, -the Help in Peril, -the All-Glorious, -the Unconstrained. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O my God! -Thou knowest that my sole aim in revealing -Thy Cause hath been to reveal Thee and not my self, -and to manifest Thy -glory rather than my glory. -In Thy path, -and to attain Thy pleasure, -I -have scorned rest, -joy, -delight. -At all times and under all conditions my -gaze hath been fixed on Thy precepts, -and mine eyes bent upon the things -Thou hast bidden me observe in Thy Tablets. -I have wakened every morning -to the light of Thy praise and Thy remembrance, -and reached every evening -inhaling the fragrances of Thy mercy. - - -And when the entire creation was stirred up, -and the whole earth was -convulsed, -and the sweet savors of Thy name, -the All-Praised, -had almost -ceased to breathe over Thy realms, -and the winds of Thy mercy had -well-nigh been stilled throughout Thy dominions, -Thou didst, -through the -power of Thy might, -raise me up among Thy servants, -and bid me to show -forth Thy sovereignty amidst Thy people. -Thereupon I arose before all Thy -creatures, -strengthened by Thy help and Thy power, -and summoned all the -multitudes unto Thee, -and announced unto all Thy servants Thy favors and -Thy gifts, -and invited them to turn towards this Ocean, -every drop of the -waters of which crieth out, -proclaiming unto all that are in heaven and on -earth that He is, -in truth, -the Fountain of all life, -and the Quickener of -the entire creation, -and the Object of the adoration of all worlds, -and -the Best-Beloved of every understanding heart, -and the Desire of all them -that are nigh unto Thee. - - -Though the fierce winds of the hatred of the wicked doers blew and beat on -this Lamp, -He was, -at no time, -in His love for Thy beauty, -hindered from -shedding the fragrance of His light. -As the transgressions committed -against Thee waxed greater and greater, -my eagerness to reveal Thy Cause -correspondingly increased, -and as the tribulations deepened--and to this -Thy glory beareth me witness--a fuller measure of Thy sovereignty and of -Thy power was vouchsafed by me unto Thy creatures. - - -And finally, -I was cast by the transgressors into the prison-city of Akká, - -and my kindred were made captives in Ba_gh_dád. -The power of Thy might -beareth me witness, -O my God! -Every trouble that hath touched me in Thy -path hath added to my joy and increased my gladness. -I swear by Thee, -O -Thou Who art the King of Kings! -None of the kings of the earth hath power -to hinder me from remembering Thee or from extolling Thy virtues. -Were -they to be leagued--as they have been leagued--against me, -and to brandish -their sharpest swords and most afflictive spears against me, -I would not -hesitate to magnify Thy name before all them that are in Thy heaven and on -Thy earth. -Nay rather, -I would cry out and say: -"This, -O my Beloved, -is my -face which I have offered up for Thy face, -and this is my spirit which I -have sacrificed for Thy spirit, -and this is my blood that seetheth in my -veins, -in its longing to be shed for love of Thee and in Thy path. -" - -Though--as Thou beholdest me, -O my God--I be dwelling in a place within -whose walls no voice can be heard except the sound of the echo, -though all -the gates of ease and comfort be shut against us, -and thick darkness -appear to have compassed us on every side, -yet my soul hath been so -inflamed by its love for Thee, -that nothing whatsoever can either quench -the fire of its love or abate the consuming flame of its desire. -Lifting -up its voice, -it crieth aloud amidst Thy servants, -and calleth them, -at -all times and under all conditions, -unto Thee. - - -I beseech Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name, -to open the eyes of Thy servants, - -that they may behold Thee shining above the horizon of Thy majesty and -glory, -and that they may not be hindered by the croaking of the raven from -hearkening to the voice of the Dove of Thy sublime oneness, -nor be -prevented by the corrupt waters from partaking of the pure wine of Thy -bounty and the everlasting streams of Thy gifts. - - -Gather them, -then, -together around this Divine Law, -the covenant of which -Thou hast established with all Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers, -and Whose -ordinances Thou hast written down in Thy Tablets and Thy Scriptures. -Raise -them up, -moreover, -to such heights as will enable them to perceive Thy -Call. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Inaccessible, -the All-Glorious. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest me dwelling in this -prison-house that lieth behind the seas and the mountains, -and knowest -full well what I have endured for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy -Cause. -Thou art He, -O my God, -Who hath raised me up at Thy behest, -and -bidden me to occupy Thy seat, -and to summon all men to the court of Thy -mercy. -It is Thou Who hast commanded me to tell out the things Thou didst -destine for them in the Tablet of Thy decree and didst inscribe with the -pen of Thy Revelation, -and Who hast enjoined on me the duty of kindling -the fire of Thy love in the hearts of Thy servants, -and of drawing all the -peoples of the earth nearer to the habitation of Thy throne. - - -And when, -as bidden by Thee, -I arose and called out, -by Thy leave, -all Thy -creatures, -the wayward among Thy servants opposed me. -Some turned away -from me, -others disowned my claim, -a few hesitated, -while others were sore -perplexed, -notwithstanding that Thy testimony was set forth before the -followers of all religions, -and Thy proof demonstrated unto all the -peoples of the earth, -and the signs of Thy might so powerfully manifested -as to encompass the entire creation. - - -I was, -moreover, -opposed by mine own kindred, -although, -as Thou knowest, - -they were dear to me and I had desired for them that which I had desired -for mine own self. -These are the ones who, -when learning that I had been -cast into prison, -perpetrated against me what no man else on earth had -perpetrated. - - -I entreat Thee, -therefore, -O my God, -by Thy name by which Thou hast -separated between truth and denial, -to purify their hearts of all evil -suggestions, -and to enable them to draw nigh unto Him Who is the -Day-Spring of Thy names and Thine attributes. - - -Thou knowest, -O my God, -that I have severed every tie that bindeth me to -any of Thy creatures except that most exalted tie that uniteth me with -whosoever cleaveth unto Thee, -in this the day of the revelation of Thy -most august Self, -that hath appeared in Thy name, -the All-Glorious. -Thou -knowest that I have dissolved every bond that knitteth me to any one of my -kindred except such as have enjoyed near access to Thy most effulgent -face. - - -I have no will but Thy will, -O my Lord, -and cherish no desire except Thy -desire. -From my pen floweth only the summons which Thine own exalted pen -hath voiced, -and my tongue uttereth naught save what the Most Great Spirit -hath itself proclaimed in the kingdom of Thine eternity. -I am stirred by -nothing else except the winds of Thy will, -and breathe no word except the -words which, -by Thy leave and Thine inspiration, -I am led to pronounce. - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Thou Who art the Well-Beloved of all that have known -Thee, -and the Desire of the hearts of such as are devoted to Thee, - -inasmuch as Thou hast made me a target for the ills that I suffer in my -love for Thee, -and the object of the assaults launched against me in Thy -path. -Thy glory beareth me witness! -I can, -on no account, -feel impatient -of the adversities that I have borne in my love for Thee. -From the very -day Thou didst reveal Thyself unto me, -I have accepted for myself every -manner of tribulation. -Every moment of my life my head crieth out to Thee -and saith: -"Would, -O my Lord, -that I could be raised on the spear-point in -Thy path! -" while my blood entreateth Thee saying: -"Dye the earth with me, - -O my God, -for the sake of Thy love and Thy pleasure! -" Thou knowest that I -have, -at no time, -sought to guard my body against any affliction, -nay -rather I have continually anticipated the things Thou didst ordain for me -in the Tablet of Thy decree. - - -Behold, -then, -O my God, -my loneliness among Thy servants and my remoteness -from Thy friends and Thy chosen ones. -I beseech Thee, -by the showers of -the clouds of Thy mercy, -whereby Thou hast caused the blossoms of Thy -praise and utterance and the flowers of Thy wisdom and testimony to spring -forth in the hearts of all them that have recognized Thy oneness, -to -supply Thy servants and my kindred with the fruits of the tree of Thy -unity, -in these days when Thou hast been established upon the throne of -Thy mercy. -Hinder them not, -O my Lord, -from attaining unto the things Thou -dost possess, -and write down for them that which will aid them to scale -the heights of Thy grace and favor. -Give them, -moreover, -to drink of the -living waters of Thy knowledge, -and ordain for them the good of this world -and of the world to come. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Lord of Bahá, -and the Beloved of his heart, -and the -Object of his desire, -and the Inspirer of his tongue, -and the Source of -his soul. -No God is there but Thee, -the Inaccessible, -the Most High. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Merciful. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I yield Thee thanks for having enabled -me to recognize the Manifestation of Thyself, -and for having severed me -from Thine enemies, -and laid bare before mine eyes their misdeeds and -wicked works in Thy days, -and for having rid me of all attachment to them, - -and caused me to turn wholly towards Thy grace and bountiful favors. -I -give Thee thanks, -also, -for having sent down upon me from the clouds of -Thy will that which hath so sanctified me from the hints of the infidels -and the allusions of the misbelievers that I have fixed my heart firmly on -Thee, -and fled from such as have denied the light of Thy countenance. - -Again I thank Thee for having empowered me to be steadfast in Thy love, - -and to speak forth Thy praise and to extol Thy virtues, -and for having -given me to drink of the cup of Thy mercy that hath surpassed all things -visible and invisible. - - -Thou art the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Loving. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -Thou seest me shut up in this Prison, -and art -well aware that I have entered it solely for Thy sake and for the sake of -the glorification of Thy word and the proclamation of Thy Cause. -I cry out -to Thee, -this very moment, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all worlds, - -beseeching Thee, -by Thine undoubted Name, -to attract the hearts of Thy -servants unto the Day-Spring of Thy most excellent titles and the -Dawning-Place of Thy most resplendent signs. - - -But for the troubles that touch me in Thy path, -O my God, -how else could -my heart rejoice in Thy days; -and were it not for the blood which is shed -for love of Thee, -what else could tinge the faces of Thy chosen ones -before the eyes of Thy creatures? -I swear by Thy might! -The ornament that -adorneth the countenance of Thy dear ones is the blood which, -in their -love for Thee, -floweth out of their foreheads over their faces. - - -Thou beholdest, -O my God, -how every bone in my body soundeth like a pipe -with the music of Thine inspiration, -revealing the signs of Thy oneness -and the clear tokens of Thy unity. -I entreat Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Name -which irradiateth all things, -to raise up such servants as shall incline -their ears to the voice of the melodies that hath ascended from the right -hand of the throne of Thy glory. -Make them, -then, -to quaff from the hand -of Thy grace the wine of Thy mercy, -that it may assure their hearts, -and -cause them to turn away from the left hand of idle fancies and vain -imaginings to the right hand of confidence and certitude. - - -Now that Thou hast guided them unto the door of Thy grace, -O my Lord, -cast -them not away, -by Thy bounty; -and now that Thou hast summoned them unto -the horizon of Thy Cause, -keep them not back from Thee, -by Thy -graciousness and favor. -Powerful art Thou to do as Thou pleasest. -No God -is there but Thee, -the Omniscient, -the All-Informed. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -My tongue, -both the tongue of my body -and the tongue of my heart, -my limbs and members, -every pulsating vein -within me, -every hair of my head, -all proclaim that Thou art God, -and that -there is none other God beside Thee. -From everlasting Thou hast been -immeasurably exalted above all similitudes and comparisons, -and sanctified -from whatsoever pertaineth to the creation Thou hast created and -fashioned. -From eternity Thou hast been alone, -with none to share the -majesty of Thy singleness, -and hast remained far above the changes and -chances to which all Thy creatures are subjected. - - -And when Thou didst purpose to demonstrate the power of Thy sovereign -might, -and to glorify Thy word, -and to guide the steps of Thy people, -Thou -didst raise up from among Thy creatures One of Thy servants, -Whom Thou -didst send forth with the signs of Thy sovereignty, -and Whom Thou didst -endue with the clear tokens of Thy oneness, -that He might fulfill Thy -testimony unto all created things, -and perfect Thy proof before all men. - - -As soon as He revealed Himself, -as bidden by Thee, -and called Thy servants -to turn in the direction of Thy gifts, -and to set their faces towards the -horizon of Thy knowledge, -the signs of dissension appeared amongst them. - -Some responded to Thy call and, -without the least hesitation, -obeyed Thy -summons. -Others turned their backs to Thee, -and followed the desires of a -corrupt inclination. - - -I implore Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Most Great Name, -to enrapture the nations -through the potency of the Word which Thou didst ordain to be the king of -all words, -the Word whereby the goodly pearls of Thy hidden wisdom were -uncovered, -and the gem-like mysteries which were wrapped up within Thee -were unraveled. -Deprive them not, -by Thy grace and bounty, -of the things -Thou didst desire for them, -and suffer them not to be far removed from the -shores of the ocean of Thy presence. - - -Every existence, -whether seen or unseen, -O my Lord, -testifieth that Thy -mercy hath surpassed all created things, -and Thy loving-kindness embraced -the entire creation. -Look upon them, -I entreat Thee, -with the eyes of Thy -mercy. -Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. -Do with them -as beseemeth Thy glory, -and Thy majesty, -and Thy greatness, -and Thy -bounteousness and Thy grace. -Deal not with them according to the -limitations imposed upon them, -or the manifold vicissitudes of their -earthly life. - - -Thou knowest, -O my Lord, -that I am but one of Thy servants. -I have tasted -of the sweetness of Thy speech, -and acknowledged Thy unity and Thy -singleness, -and set my face towards the Source of Thy most excellent names -and the Day-Spring of Thy transcendent attributes, -and wished to be -enabled by Thee to immerse myself beneath the ocean of Thy oneness and to -be submerged by the mighty waters of Thy unity. - - -Assist me, -by Thy strengthening grace, -O my Lord, -to do what Thou didst -will, -and withhold not from me the things Thou dost possess. -So enravish -me with the wonders of Thine utterances that the noise and distraction of -this world may be powerless to deter me from turning unto Thee, -and may -fail to shake my constancy in Thy Cause, -or to distract my gaze from the -horizon of Thy grace. -Aid me, -then, -O my God, -to do what pleaseth Thee, - -and to carry out Thy will. -Write down for me, -moreover, -the good of this -world and of the world which is to come, -and ordain for me a seat of truth -in Thy presence. -Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, -and to rule as -Thou pleasest. -No God is there but Thee, -the Inaccessible, -the -All-Glorious, -the Most Great. - - -All-praise to Thee, -O Lord of the worlds and the Object of the adoration -of the entire creation! - - - - - - - -Faded now is all that erstwhile flourished in the Paradise of Thy -transcendent oneness, -O my God! -Where are the rain-giving clouds of Thy -mercy? -Shorn are the branches of the Tree of Thy unity of the vesture of -Thy majesty and wisdom; -where is the spring-time of Thy gifts and -bounties? -Motionless lies the Ark of Thy Cause on the sea of Thy creation; - -where are the winds of Thy grace and favors? -Encompassed on every side is -Thy Lamp by the tempests of discord blowing from every land; -where is the -globe of Thy graciousness and protection? - - -Thou seest, -O my God, -how the eyes of these poor creatures are bent upon -the horizon of Thy riches, -how the hearts of these helpless ones are set -in the direction of Thy might. -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the sole -Desire of them that have recognized Thee, -and the Object of the adoration -of the entire creation, -not to suffer them, -now that Thou hast attracted -them by Thy most exalted Word, -to be far removed from the Tabernacle which -Thou hast reared up by Thy name, -the All-Glorious. - - -They are sore pressed with cares, -O my Lord, -and are encompassed about by -the wicked. -Send down, -therefore, -from the heaven of Thy behest Thine -invisible hosts, -that, -holding aloft the ensigns of Thy victory, -they may -help them in Thy land, -and may shield them against Thine adversaries. - - -I entreat Thee, -O my God, -by Thy name through which the clouds have rained -down their rain, -and the streams have flowed, -and the fire of Thy love -hath been kindled throughout Thy dominion, -to assist Thy servant who hath -turned towards Thee, -and hath spoken forth Thy praise, -and determined to -help Thee. -Fortify, -then, -his heart, -O my God, -in Thy love and in Thy -Faith. -Better is this for him than all that hath been created on Thine -earth, -for the world and whatsoever is therein must perish, -and what -pertaineth unto Thee must endure as long as Thy most excellent names -endure. -By Thy Glory! -Were the world to last as long as Thine own kingdom -will last, -to set their affections upon it would still be unseemly for -such as have quaffed, -from the hands of Thy mercy, -the wine of Thy -presence; -how much more when they recognize its fleetingness and are -persuaded of its transience. -The chances that overtake it, -and the changes -to which all things pertaining unto it are continually subjected, -attest -its impermanence. - - -Whosoever hath recognized Thee will turn to none save Thee, -and will seek -from Thee naught else except Thyself. -Thou art the sole Desire of the -heart of him whose thoughts are fixed on Thee, -and the highest Aspiration -of whosoever is wholly devoted unto Thee. - - -No God is there beside Thee, -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the -All-Glorious, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O my God, -for that Thou hast manifested the Day -which is the King of Days, -the Day which Thou didst announce unto Thy -chosen Ones and Thy Prophets in Thy most excellent Tablets, -the Day -whereon Thou didst shed the splendor of the glory of all Thy names upon -all created things. -Great is his blessedness whosoever hath set himself -towards Thee, -and entered Thy presence, -and caught the accents of Thy -voice. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by the name of Him round Whom circleth in -adoration the kingdom of Thy names, -that Thou wilt graciously assist them -that are dear to Thee to glorify Thy word among Thy servants, -and to shed -abroad Thy praise amidst Thy creatures, -so that the ecstasies of Thy -revelation may fill the souls of all the dwellers of Thine earth. - - -Since Thou hast guided them, -O my Lord, -unto the living waters of Thy -grace, -grant, -by Thy bounty, -that they may not be kept back from Thee; -and -since Thou hast summoned them to the habitation of Thy throne, -drive them -not out from Thy presence, -through Thy loving-kindness. -Send down upon -them what shall wholly detach them from aught else except Thee, -and make -them able to soar in the atmosphere of Thy nearness, -in such wise that -neither the ascendancy of the oppressor nor the suggestions of them that -have disbelieved in Thy most august and most mighty Self shall be capable -of keeping them back from Thee. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Thou in Whose hands is the kingdom of all names, -and -in the grasp of Whose might are all that are in heaven and all that are on -earth! -I entreat Thee, -by Him Who is Thy Most Effulgent Name Whom Thou -hast made a target for the darts of Thy decree in Thy path, -O Thou the -King of eternity, -to rend asunder the veils that have shut off Thy -creatures from the horizon of Thy glory, -that haply they may turn their -faces in the direction of Thy mercy, -and draw nigh unto the Day-Spring of -Thy loving-kindness. - - -Leave not Thy servants to themselves, -O my Lord! -Draw them through the -influence of Thine utterances unto the Dawning-Place of Thine inspiration, - -and to the Fountain of Thy Revelation, -and to the Treasury of Thy wisdom. - -Thou art He to Whose strength and power all things have testified, -Whose -Purpose nothing whatsoever of all that hath been created in Thy heaven and -on Thy earth hath been able to frustrate. - - -Render, -then, -victorious, -O my God, -Thy servants who have set their faces -towards Thee, -and directed their steps to the seat of Thy grace. -Send -down, -then, -upon them what will keep them safe from the danger of turning -to any one but Thee, -and from fixing their eyes upon aught else except -Thyself. - - -Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, -and to rule as Thou pleasest. - -There is no God but Thee, -the God of glory and wisdom. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Thy Name, -the -Restrainer, -to withhold from us the maleficence of Thine adversaries who -have disbelieved in Thy testimony, -and caviled at Thy beauty. -Overpower by -Thy Name, -the All-Subduing, -such as have wronged Thy Previous -Manifestation Who hath now appeared invested with Thy title, -the -All-Glorious. -Lay hold, -by Thy name, -the Chastiser, -on them that have -treated Thy Cause with scorn, -have jested at Thy most mighty utterances, - -and were hindered from attaining this most exalted station. -Enable Thy -loved ones, -by Thy Name, -the Victorious, -to prevail against Thine enemies -and the infidels among Thy creatures. -Rend asunder, -by Thy Name, -the -Cleaver, -the veil that hideth the doings of them that have besmirched -Thine honor and undermined Thy Faith among Thy people. -Bind, -by Thy Name, - -the Restorer, -the broken hearts of them that love Thee, -and graciously -bless them in their affairs. -Teach them, -by Thy Name, -the All-Knowing, -the -wonders of Thy wisdom, -that they may cleave steadfastly to Thy Faith and -walk in the ways of Thy pleasure. -Keep them safe, -by Thy Name, -the -Withholder, -from the tyranny of the oppressor and the wickedness of the -evil-doers and the malice of the stirrers of mischief. -Shield them, -by Thy -Name, -the Preserver, -within the stronghold of Thy might and power, -that -haply they may be protected from the darts of doubt that are hurled by -such as have rebelled against Thee. -Sanctify for Thy servants, -by Thy Name -which Thou hast blessed above all other names, -which Thou hast singled out -for Thy favor, -and by which Thou didst reveal Thy beauty, -these days of -which the Pen of Thy decree hath distinctly written, -and which, -according -to Thy will and wisdom, -have been preordained in Thine irrevocable Tablet. - -Subject to Thy rule, -by Thy Name, -the Conqueror, -the people of Thy realm, - -that all may turn towards Thy face and forsake their all for love of Thee -and for the sake of Thy pleasure. - - -Abase Thou, -O my Lord, -Thine enemies, -and lay hold on them with Thy power -and might, -and let them be stricken by the blast of Thy wrath. -Make them -taste, -O my God, -of Thine awful majesty and vengeance, -for they have -repudiated the truth of the One in Whom they had believed, -Who came unto -them with Thy signs and Thy clear tokens and the evidences of Thy power -and the manifold revelations of Thy might. -Gather, -then, -together Thy -loved ones beneath the shadow of the Tree of Thy oneness, -and of the -Manifestation of the effulgent light of Thy unity. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the One Whose power is immense, -Whose vengeance is -terrible. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O Lord my God, -inasmuch as Thou hast inclined mine -ear to Thy voice, -and called me to Thyself, -and opened mine eyes to gaze -on Thy beauty, -and illumined my heart with Thy knowledge, -and sanctified -my breast from the doubts of the infidels in Thy days. -I am the one, -O my -God, -who lay fast asleep on his couch, -when lo, -the messengers of Thy -manifold mercies were sent down upon me by Thee, -and the gentle winds of -Thy loving-kindness blew over me, -and roused me up, -and caused me to set -my face towards the sanctuary of Thy knowledge, -and to fix mine eyes upon -the splendors of the light of Thy face. - - -I am but a poor creature, -O my Lord! -Behold me clinging to the hem of Thy -riches. -I have fled from darkness and from waywardness unto the brightness -of the light of Thy countenance. -Were I--and to this Thy glory beareth me -witness--to render thanksgiving unto Thee, -through the whole continuance of -Thy kingdom and the duration of the heaven of Thine omnipotence, -I would -still have failed to repay Thy manifold bestowals. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy name, -the Ever-Abiding, -and by Thy name -which Thou didst ordain to be the most great Instrument binding Thee to -Thy servants, -to grant that I may flee for shelter to Thy door, -and speak -forth Thy praise. -Write down, -then, -for me, -in every world of Thine, -that -which will enable me to enter beneath Thy shadow and within the borders of -Thy court. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Bountiful, -the Most Exalted, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - -All-praise be to Thee, -O Lord, -my God! -I know not how to sing Thy praise, - -how to describe Thy glory, -how to call upon Thy Name. -If I call upon Thee -by Thy Name, -the All-Possessing, -I am compelled to recognize that He Who -holdeth in His hand the immediate destinies of all created things is but a -vassal dependent upon Thee, -and is the creation of but a word proceeding -from Thy mouth. -And if I proclaim Thee by the name of Him Who is the -All-Compelling, -I readily discover that He is but a suppliant fallen upon -the dust, -awe-stricken by Thy dreadful might, -Thy sovereignty and power. - -And if I attempt to describe Thee by glorifying the oneness of Thy Being, - -I soon realize that such a conception is but a notion which mine own fancy -hath woven, -and that Thou hast ever been immeasurably exalted above the -vain imaginations which the hearts of men have devised. - - -The glory of Thy might beareth me witness! -Whoso claimeth to have known -Thee hath, -by virtue of such a claim, -testified to his own ignorance; -and -whoso believeth himself to have attained unto Thee, -all the atoms of the -earth would attest his powerlessness and proclaim his failure. -Thou hast, - -however, -by virtue of Thy mercy that hath surpassed the kingdoms of earth -and heaven, -deigned to accept from Thy servants the laud and honor they -pay to Thine own exalted Self, -and hast bidden them celebrate Thy glory, - -that the ensigns of Thy guidance may be unfurled in Thy cities and the -tokens of Thy mercy be spread abroad among Thy nations, -and that each and -all may be enabled to attain unto that which Thou hast destined for them -by Thy decree, -and ordained unto them through Thine irrevocable will and -purpose. - - -Having testified, -therefore, -unto mine own impotence and the impotence of -Thy servants, -I beseech Thee, -by the brightness of the light of Thy -beauty, -not to refuse Thy creatures attainment to the shores of Thy most -holy ocean. -Draw them, -then, -O my God, -through the Divine sweetness of Thy -melodies, -towards the throne of Thy glory and the seat of Thine eternal -holiness. -Thou art, -verily, -the Most Powerful, -the Supreme Ruler, -the -Great Giver, -the Most Exalted, -the Ever-Desired. - - -Grant, -then, -O my God, -that Thy servant who hath turned towards Thee, -hath -fixed his gaze upon Thee, -and clung to the cord of Thy mercifulness and -favor, -may be enabled to partake of the living waters of Thy mercy and -grace. -Cause him, -then, -to ascend unto the heights to which he aspireth, - -and withhold him not from that which Thou dost possess. -Thou art, -verily, - -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Every time I attempt to make mention of -Thee, -I am hindered by the sublimity of Thy station and the overpowering -greatness of Thy might. -For were I to praise Thee throughout the length of -Thy dominion and the duration of Thy sovereignty, -I would find that my -praise of Thee can befit only such as are like unto me, -who are themselves -Thy creatures, -and who have been generated through the power of Thy decree -and been fashioned through the potency of Thy will. -And at whatever time -my pen ascribeth glory to any one of Thy names, -methinks I can hear the -voice of its lamentation in its remoteness from Thee, -and can recognize -its cry because of its separation from Thy Self. -I testify that everything -other than Thee is but Thy creation and is held in the hollow of Thy hand. - -To have accepted any act or praise from Thy creatures is but an evidence -of the wonders of Thy grace and bountiful favors, -and a manifestation of -Thy generosity and providence. - - -I entreat Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy Most Great Name whereby Thou didst -separate light from fire, -and truth from denial, -to send down upon me and -upon such of my loved ones as are in my company the good of this world and -of the next. -Supply us, -then, -with Thy wondrous gifts that are hid from -the eyes of men. -Thou art, -verily, -the Fashioner of all creation. -No God -is there but Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Most High. - - - - - - -O Thou, -at Whose dreadful majesty all things have trembled, -in Whose grasp -are the affairs of all men, -towards Whose grace and mercy are set the -faces of all Thy creatures! -I entreat Thee, -by Thy Name which Thou hast -ordained to be the spirit of all names that are in the kingdom of names, - -to shield us from the whisperings of those who have turned away from Thee, - -and have repudiated the truth of Thy most august and most exalted Self, -in -this Revelation that hath caused the kingdom of Thy names to tremble. - - -I am one of Thy handmaidens, -O my Lord! -I have turned my face towards the -sanctuary of Thy gracious favors and the adored tabernacle of Thy glory. - -Purify me of all that is not of Thee, -and strengthen me to love Thee and -to fulfill Thy pleasure, -that I may delight myself in the contemplation of -Thy beauty, -and be rid of all attachment to any of Thy creatures, -and may, - -at every moment, -proclaim: -"Magnified be God, -the Lord of the worlds! -" - -Let my food, -O my Lord, -be Thy beauty, -and my drink the light of Thy -presence, -and my hope Thy pleasure, -and my work Thy praise, -and my -companion Thy remembrance, -and my aid Thy sovereignty, -and my -dwelling-place Thy habitation, -and my home the seat which Thou hast -exalted above the limitations of them that are shut out as by a veil from -Thee. - - -Thou art, -in truth, -the God of power, -of strength and glory. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Every time I am reminded of Thee and muse -on Thy virtues, -I am seized with such ecstasies and am so enravished by -Thee that I find myself unable to make mention of Thy name and to extol -Thee. -I am carried back to such heights that I recognize my self to be the -same as the remembrance of Thee in Thy realm, -and the essence of Thy -praise among Thy servants. -As long as that self endureth, -so long will Thy -praise continue to be shed abroad among Thy creatures and Thy remembrance -glorified by Thy people. - - -Every man endued with insight among Thy servants is persuaded that my self -liveth eternally and can never perish, -inasmuch as remembrance of Thee is -eternal and will endure so long as Thine own Self endureth, -and Thy praise -is everlasting and will last as long as Thine own sovereignty will last. - -By its means Thou art glorified by such of Thy chosen ones as call upon -Thee and by the sincere among Thy servants. -Nay, -the praise wherewith any -one, -in the entire creation, -praiseth Thee proceedeth from this exalted -self and returneth unto it, -even as the sun which, -while it shineth, - -sheddeth its splendor upon whatsoever may be exposed to its rays. -From -this sun is generated, -and unto it must return, -the light which is shed -over all things. - - -Exalted, -immeasurably exalted art Thou above any attempt to measure the -greatness of Thy Cause, -above any comparison that one may seek to make, - -above the efforts of the human tongue to utter its import! -From -everlasting Thou hast existed, -alone with no one else beside Thee, -and -wilt, -to everlasting, -continue to remain the same, -in the sublimity of -Thine essence and the inaccessible heights of Thy glory. - - -And when Thou didst purpose to make Thyself known unto men, -Thou didst -successively reveal the Manifestations of Thy Cause, -and ordained each to -be a sign of Thy Revelation among Thy people, -and the Day-Spring of Thine -invisible Self amidst Thy creatures, -until the time when, -as decreed by -Thee, -all Thy previous Revelations culminated in Him Whom Thou hast -appointed as the Lord of all who are in the heaven of revelation and the -kingdom of creation, -Him Whom Thou hast established as the Sovereign Lord -of all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth. -He it was Whom -Thou hast determined to be the Herald of Thy Most Great Revelation and the -Announcer of Thy Most Ancient Splendor. -In this Thou hadst no other -purpose except to try them who have manifested Thy most excellent titles -unto all who are in heaven and on earth. -He it was Whom Thou hast -commanded to establish His covenant with all created things. - - -And when Thy promise came to pass and the set time was fulfilled, -He Who -is the Possessor of all Names and Attributes was made manifest unto men. - -Thereupon all that were in the heavens and all that were on the earth were -terror-stricken save those whom Thou didst keep under Thy protection and -preserve within the shelter of Thy power and gracious providence. -There -befell Him, -at the hands of such of Thy creatures as have transgressed -against Thee, -that which the tongue of no one of Thy servants can recount. - - -Look down, -then, -upon Him, -O my God, -with the eye of Thy tender mercy, -and -send down upon Him and upon those that love Him all the good Thou didst -ordain in the heaven of Thy will and the Tablet of Thy decree. -Aid them, - -then, -with Thy succor, -for Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most -Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Compelling. - - - - - - - -All glory be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I bear witness for Thee to that -whereto Thou Thyself didst bear witness for Thine own Self, -ere the day -Thou hadst created the creation or made mention thereof, -that Thou art -God, -and that there is none other God beside Thee. -From eternity Thou -hast, -in Thy transcendent oneness, -been immeasurably exalted above Thy -servants' conception of Thy unity, -and wilt to eternity remain, -in Thine -unapproachable singleness, -far above the praise of Thy creatures. -No words -that any one beside Thee may utter can ever beseem Thee, -and no man's -description except Thine own description can befit Thy nature. -All who -adore Thy unity have been sore perplexed to fathom the mystery of Thy -oneness, -and all have confessed their powerlessness to attain unto the -comprehension of Thine essence and to scale the pinnacle of Thy knowledge. - -The mighty have all acknowledged their weakness, -and the learned -recognized their ignorance. -They that are possessed of influence are as -nothing when compared with the revelations of Thy stupendous sovereignty, - -and they who are exalted sink into oblivion when brought before the -manifestations of Thy great glory. -The radiance of the brightest -luminaries is eclipsed by the effulgent splendors of Thy face, -and the -tongues of the most eloquent of speakers falter under the unrestrained -effusions of Thy holy utterance, -and the foundations of the mightiest -structures tremble before the onrushing force of Thy compelling power. - - -Who is there, -O my God, -that can be deemed worthy to be remembered when -Thou art remembered, -and where is he to be found who can be regarded as -capable of hinting at Thy nature or worthy of mention in the court of Thy -transcendent oneness? -From everlasting Thou hast been alone with no one -else beside Thee, -and to everlasting Thou wilt continue to be one and the -same. -No God is there beside Thee, -the God of power, -of glory and wisdom. - - -Glorified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Him Who is Thine -exalted and supreme Remembrance, -Whom Thou hast sent down unto all Thy -creatures and invested with Thy name, -the All-Glorious, -Whose will Thou -hast ordained to be Thine own will, -Whose self Thou hast decreed to be the -revealer of Thine own Self, -and His essence the Day-Spring of Thy wisdom, - -and His heart the treasury of Thine inspiration, -and His breast the -dawning-place of Thy most excellent attributes and most exalted titles, - -and His tongue the fountain-head of the waters of Thy praise and the -well-spring of the soft-flowing streams of Thy wisdom, -to send down upon -us that which will enable us to dispense with all else except Thee, -and -will cause us to direct our steps towards the sanctuary of Thy pleasure -and to aspire after the things Thou didst ordain for us according to Thine -irrevocable decree. -Empower us, -then, -O my God, -to forsake ourselves and -cleave steadfastly to Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self, -the Most -Exalted, -the Most High. -Supply us also with that which is best for us, -and -write us down with such of Thy servants as have repudiated the Idol (Mírzá -Yahyá), -and firmly believed in Thee, -and been so established on the throne -of certitude that the whisperings of the Evil One have been powerless to -hinder them from turning their faces towards Thy name, -the All-Merciful. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou pleasest and to ordain what Thou -willest. -No God is there but Thee, -the All-Possessing, -the All-Highest, - -the Almighty, -the All-Bountiful, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -O Thou Whose remembrance is the delight of the souls of all them that -yearn after Thee, -Whose name is the exultation of the hearts of all who -are wholly devoted to Thy will, -Whose praise is cherished by such as have -drawn nigh unto Thy court, -Whose face is the ardent desire of all them -that have recognized Thy truth, -Whose trial is the healer of the -sicknesses of them who have embraced Thy Cause, -Whose calamity is the -highest aspiration of such as are rid of all attachment to any one but -Thyself! - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou, -in Whose hands is the empire -of whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on earth, -Thou, -Who -through but one word of Thy mouth, -caused all things to expire and -dissolve asunder, -and Who, -by yet another word, -caused whatever had been -separated to be combined and reunited! -Magnified be Thy name, -O Thou Who -hast power over all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth, - -Whose dominion embraceth whatsoever is in the heaven of Thy Revelation and -the kingdom of Thy creation. -None can equal Thee in Thy created realms; - -none can compare with Thee in the universe Thou hast fashioned. -The mind -of no one hath comprehended Thee, -and the aspiration of no soul hath -reached Thee. -I swear by Thy might! -Were any one to soar, -on whatever -wings, -as long as Thine own Being endureth, -throughout the immensity of -Thy knowledge, -he would still be powerless to transgress the bounds which -the contingent world hath set for him. -How can, -then, -such a man aspire to -wing his flight into the atmosphere of Thy most exalted presence? - - -He, -indeed, -is endued with understanding who acknowledgeth his -powerlessness and confesseth his sinfulness, -for should any created thing -lay claim to any existence, -when confronted with the infinite wonders of -Thy Revelation, -so blasphemous a pretension would be more heinous than any -other crime in all the domains of Thine invention and creation. -Who is -there, -O my Lord, -that, -when Thou revealest the first glimmerings of the -signs of Thy transcendent sovereignty and might, -hath the power to claim -for himself any existence whatever? -Existence itself is as nothing when -brought face to face with the mighty and manifold wonders of Thine -incomparable Self. - - -Far, -immeasurably far, -art Thou exalted above all things, -O Thou Who art -the King of Kings! -I entreat Thee by Thy Self and by Them Who are the -Manifestations of Thy Cause and the Day-Springs of Thine authority to -write down for us that which Thou hast written down for Thy chosen ones. - -Withhold not from us that which Thou didst ordain for Thy loved ones, -who, - -as soon as Thy call reached them, -hastened unto Thee, -and when the -splendors of the light of Thy countenance were shed upon them, -instantly -prostrated themselves in adoration before Thy face. - - -We are Thy servants, -O my Lord, -and in the grasp of Thy power. -If Thou -chastisest us with the chastisement inflicted upon the former and the -latter generations, -Thy verdict would be assuredly just and Thine act -praiseworthy. -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -None other God -is there beside Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Help in Peril, - -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Unto Thee be praise, -O Thou Who inclinest Thine ear to the sighing of them -that have rid themselves of all attachment to any one but Thee, -and Who -hearest the voice of the lamentation of those who are wholly devoted to -Thy Self! -Thou beholdest all that hath befallen them at the hands of such -of Thy creatures as have transgressed and rebelled against Thee. -Thy might -beareth me witness, -O Thou Who art the King of the realms of justice and -the Ruler of the cities of mercy! -The tribulations they have been made to -suffer are such as no pen, -in the entire creation, -can reckon. -Should any -one attempt to make mention of them, -he would find himself powerless to -describe them. - - -As these tribulations, -however, -were sustained in Thy path and for love of -Thee, -they who were afflicted by them render thanks, -under all conditions, - -unto Thee, -and say: -"O Thou Who art the Delight of our hearts and the -Object of our adoration! -Were the clouds of Thy decree to rain down upon -us the darts of affliction, -we would, -in our love for Thee, -refuse to be -impatient. -We would yield Thee praise and thanksgiving, -for we have -recognized and are persuaded that Thou hast ordained only that which will -be best for us. -If our bodies be, -at times, -weighed down by our troubles, - -yet our souls rejoice with exceeding gladness. -We swear by Thy might, -O -Thou Who art the Desire of our hearts and the Exultation of our souls! - -Every trouble that toucheth us in our love for Thee is an evidence of Thy -tender mercy, -every fiery ordeal a sign of the brightness of Thy light, - -every woeful tribulation a cooling draught, -every toil a blissful repose, - -every anguish a fountain of gladness. -" - -Whosoever, -O my Lord, -is impatient in the tribulations befalling him in -Thy path, -hath not drunk of the cup of Thy love nor tasted of the -sweetness of Thy remembrance. -I implore Thee, -by Him Who is the King of -all names and their Sovereign, -Who is the Revealer of all attributes and -their Creator, -and by them who have soared aloft and drawn nigh unto Thee -and winged their flight into the atmosphere of Thy presence, -and have -endured the galling of chains for Thy sake, -to grant that all Thy people -may be graciously aided to recognize Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine -own Self, -Who, -because He summoned mankind unto Thee, -hath been exiled and -cast into prison. - - -The tenderness of Thy mercy, -O my Lord, -surpasseth the fury of Thy wrath, - -and Thy loving-kindness exceedeth Thy hot displeasure, -and Thy grace -excelleth Thy justice. -Hold Thou, -through Thy wondrous favors and mercies, - -the hands of Thy creatures, -and suffer them not to be separated from the -grace which Thou hast ordained as the means whereby they can recognize -Thee. -The glory of Thy might beareth me witness! -Were such a thing to -happen, -every soul would be sore shaken, -every man endued with -understanding would be bewildered, -and every possessor of knowledge would -be dumbfounded, -except those who have been succored through the hands of -Thy Cause, -and have been made the recipients of the revelations of Thy -grace and of the tokens of Thy favors. - - -I swear by Thy might, -O my God! -Wert Thou to regard Thy servants according -to their deserts in Thy days, -they would assuredly merit naught except Thy -chastisement and torment. -Thou art, -however, -the One Who is of great -bounteousness, -Whose grace is immense. -Look not down upon them, -O my God, - -with the glance of Thy justice, -but rather with the eyes of Thy tender -compassions and mercies. -Do, -then, -with them according to what beseemeth -Thy generosity and bountiful favor. -Potent art Thou to do whatsoever may -please Thee. -Incomparable art Thou. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Lord -of the throne on high and of earth below, -the Ruler of this world and of -the world to come. -Thou art the God of Bounty, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the -Great Giver, -the Most Generous. - - -Do Thou bless, -O Lord my God, -the One through Whom the mysteries of Thine -omnipotence have been disclosed, -through Whom the revelations of Thy -divinity have been glorified, -through Whom the goodly pearls of Thy -knowledge and wisdom have been uncovered, -through Whom Thy signs and -tokens have been noised abroad, -through Whom Thy word hath been set forth -with clearness, -through Whom the light of Thy countenance hath shone forth -and the power of Thy sovereignty been established. -Bless Thou all those -also who, -wholly for Thy sake, -have turned towards Thee. -Send down, - -moreover, -upon Him and them such of Thy wondrous mercies as may well -beseem Thy highness. -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, - -the All-Glorious, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou art He Who hath created all things -through a word uttered by Thy behest, -and fashioned the entire creation -through the power of Thy sovereignty and might. -The mightiest of men are -abased before the revelations of Thy glory, -and they who are endued with -strength tremble when faced with the evidences of Thy might. -Every man of -insight is bereft of vision when confronted with the effulgence of the -glory of Thy face, -and he who is possessed of riches is poor and desolate -when beholding the plenteousness of Thy wealth. - - -I implore Thee by Thine All-Glorious Name, -wherewith Thou didst adorn all -the denizens of the kingdom of Thy revelation and the inmates of the -heaven of Thy will, -to grant that my soul may be attracted by the -sweetness of the melody of the Bird of Heaven that chanteth amidst the -branches of the tree of Thy decree that Thou art God, -that there is none -other God beside Thee. - - -Cleanse me with the waters of Thy mercy, -O my Lord, -and make me wholly -Thine, -and cause me to approach the Tabernacle of Thy Cause and the adored -Sanctuary of Thy Presence. -Ordain, -then, -for me all the things Thou didst -ordain for the chosen ones among Thy handmaidens, -and rain down upon me -that which will illuminate my face and enlighten my heart. - - -Thou hast power to do what Thou willest, -and Thou ordainest what Thou -pleasest. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest my poverty and my misery, -my -troubles and my needs, -my utter helplessness and my extreme lowliness, -my -lamentations and my bitter wailing, -the anguish of my soul and the -afflictions which beset me. -The power of Thy might beareth me witness! - -Such is the depth of mine abasement that Thy servants who have strayed far -from Thy path deride me. -Thou knowest that I am recognized as the bearer -of Thy name among Thy creatures. -Thou knowest that my station is but an -image of Thy station, -that my virtues recount Thy virtues, -that within -mine inmost being naught can be found except the revelations of Thy signs, - -and that my very essence is but a reflection of the evidences of Thy -unity. - - -All these things Thou hast noised abroad among Thy creatures, -in such wise -that none can recognize me, -except as one who beareth Thy name. -I swear by -Thy glory! -My lamentations are not for the things which have befallen me -in Thy path, -but are due to my recognition that by reason of mine -abasement the hearts of them that love Thee have been sore shaken, -and the -souls of Thine adversaries have been so filled with joy that they rejoice -over those who have detached themselves from all except Thee and have -hastened towards the river of Thy remembrance and praise. -So great is -their waywardness that when meeting Thy loved ones, -they shake their heads -in derision of Thy Cause and say: -"Where is your Lord Whom ye mention in -the daytime and in the night season? -Where is He to be found Whom ye call -your Sovereign, -to Whom ye summon all men to turn? -" Their pride and -haughtiness waxed greater and greater until they denied the power of Thy -might and rejected Thy sovereignty and dominion. - - -Thy glory beareth me witness! -I delight in mine own afflictions and in the -afflictions which they who love me suffer in Thy path. -Neither I nor they, - -however, -are able to bear such affronts and reproaches as are uttered by -Thine enemies against Thy Self, -the Unrestrained. -How long shalt Thou -remain seated, -O my God, -on the throne of Thy forbearance and patience? - -Speak Thou Thy word of wrath, -O Thou Whom no eyes can see! -Well-beloved is -Thy mercy unto the sincere among Thy servants, -and well-beseeming Thy -chastisement of the infidels among Thine enemies. -Send down upon them, - -therefore, -O my Lord, -that which will unmistakably reveal unto them the -fury of Thy wrath and the ascendancy of Thy power, -and will enable them to -recognize the weight of Thy might and the greatness of Thy strength. -If -Thou refusest, -O my God, -to aid them that love Thee, -assist Thou, -then, - -Thine own Self and Him Who is Thy Remembrance. - - -I entreat Thee by Thy name, -that hath caused the ocean of Thy wrath to -surge, -to chastise them who have repudiated Thy truth and disowned Thine -utterances. -Abase them, -then, -by Thy might and power, -and exalt such as -have, -wholly for Thy sake, -set their faces towards Thee, -that through them -the ensigns of Thy glorification may be unfurled among all nations, -and -Thy tokens be spread abroad among all peoples, -and that all may testify -that Thou art God, -that there is none other God beside Thee, -the God of -power, -of majesty and glory. - - - - - - - -Magnified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I ask Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast -set up above all other names, -through which the veil of heaven hath been -split asunder and the Day-Star of Thy beauty hath risen above the horizon, - -shining with the brightness of Thy Name, -the Exalted, -the Most High, -to -succor me with Thy wondrous help and to preserve me in the shelter of Thy -care and protection. - - -I am one of Thy handmaidens, -O my Lord! -Unto Thee have I turned, -and in -Thee have I placed my trust. -Grant that I may be so confirmed in my love -for Thee, -and in fulfilling that which is well-pleasing unto Thee, -that -neither the defection of the infidels among Thy people, -nor the clamor of -the hypocrites among Thy creatures, -may avail to keep me back from Thee. - - -Purge Thou mine ear, -O my Lord, -that I may hearken unto the verses sent -down unto Thee, -and illuminate my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, - -and loose my tongue that it may make mention of Thee and sing Thy praise. - -By Thy might, -O my God! -My soul is wedded to none beside Thee, -and my -heart seeketh none except Thine own Self. - - -No God is there beside Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the Great Giver, -the -Forgiving, -the Compassionate. - - - - - - - -These are, -O my God, -the days whereon Thou didst enjoin Thy servants to -observe the fast. -With it Thou didst adorn the preamble of the Book of Thy -Laws revealed unto Thy creatures, -and didst deck forth the Repositories of -Thy commandments in the sight of all who are in Thy heaven and all who are -on Thy earth. -Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special -virtue, -inscrutable to all except Thee, -Whose knowledge embraceth all -created things. -Thou hast, -also, -assigned unto every soul a portion of -this virtue in accordance with the Tablet of Thy decree and the Scriptures -of Thine irrevocable judgment. -Every leaf of these Books and Scriptures -Thou hast, -moreover, -allotted to each one of the peoples and kindreds of -the earth. - - -For Thine ardent lovers Thou hast, -according to Thy decree, -reserved, -at -each daybreak, -the cup of Thy remembrance, -O Thou Who art the Ruler of -rulers! -These are they who have been so inebriated with the wine of Thy -manifold wisdom that they forsake their couches in their longing to -celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy virtues, -and flee from sleep in their -eagerness to approach Thy presence and partake of Thy bounty. -Their eyes -have, -at all times, -been bent upon the Day-Spring of Thy loving-kindness, - -and their faces set towards the Fountain-Head of Thine inspiration. -Rain -down, -then, -upon us and upon them from the clouds of Thy mercy what -beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounteousness and grace. - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -This is the hour when Thou hast unlocked the -doors of Thy bounty before the faces of Thy creatures, -and opened wide the -portals of Thy tender mercy unto all the dwellers of Thine earth. -I -beseech Thee, -by all them whose blood was shed in Thy path, -who, -in their -yearning over Thee, -rid themselves from all attachment to any of Thy -creatures, -and who were so carried away by the sweet savors of Thine -inspiration that every single member of their bodies intoned Thy praise -and vibrated to Thy remembrance, -not to withhold from us the things Thou -hast irrevocably ordained in this Revelation--a Revelation the potency of -which hath caused every tree to cry out what the Burning Bush had -aforetime proclaimed unto Moses, -Who conversed with Thee, -a Revelation -that hath enabled every least pebble to resound again with Thy praise, -as -the stones glorified Thee in the days of Muhammad, -Thy Friend. - - -These are the ones, -O my God, -whom Thou hast graciously enabled to have -fellowship with Thee and to commune with Him Who is the Revealer of -Thyself. -The winds of Thy will have scattered them abroad until Thou didst -gather them together beneath Thy shadow, -and didst cause them to enter -into the precincts of Thy court. -Now that Thou hast made them to abide -under the shade of the canopy of Thy mercy, -do Thou assist them to attain -what must befit so august a station. -Suffer them not, -O my Lord, -to be -numbered with them who, -though enjoying near access to Thee, -have been -kept back from recognizing Thy face, -and who, -though meeting with Thee, - -are deprived of Thy presence. - - -These are Thy servants, -O my Lord, -who have entered with Thee in this, -the -Most Great Prison, -who have kept the fast within its walls according to -what Thou hadst commanded them in the Tablets of Thy decree and the Books -of Thy behest. -Send down, -therefore, -upon them what will thoroughly purge -them of all Thou abhorrest, -that they may be wholly devoted to Thee, -and -may detach themselves entirely from all except Thyself. - - -Rain down, -then, -upon us, -O my God, -that which beseemeth Thy grace and -befitteth Thy bounty. -Enable us, -then, -O my God, -to live in remembrance of -Thee and to die in love of Thee, -and supply us with the gift of Thy -presence in Thy worlds hereafter--worlds which are inscrutable to all -except Thee. -Thou art our Lord and the Lord of all worlds, -and the God of -all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. - - -Thou beholdest, -O my God, -what hath befallen Thy dear ones in Thy days. - -Thy glory beareth me witness! -The voice of the lamentation of Thy chosen -ones hath been lifted up throughout Thy realm. -Some were ensnared by the -infidels in Thy land, -and were hindered by them from having near access to -Thee and from attaining the court of Thy glory. -Others were able to -approach Thee, -but were kept back from beholding Thy face. -Still others -were permitted, -in their eagerness to look upon Thee, -to enter the -precincts of Thy court, -but they allowed the veils of the imaginations of -Thy creatures and the wrongs inflicted by the oppressors among Thy people -to come in between them and Thee. - - -This is the hour, -O my Lord, -which Thou hast caused to excel every other -hour, -and hast related it to the choicest among Thy creatures. -I beseech -Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Self and by them, -to ordain in the course of this -year what shall exalt Thy loved ones. -Do Thou, -moreover, -decree within -this year what will enable the Day-Star of Thy power to shine brightly -above the horizon of Thy glory, -and to illuminate, -by Thy sovereign might, - -the whole world. - - -Render Thy Cause victorious, -O my Lord, -and abase Thou Thine enemies. - -Write down, -then, -for us the good of this life and of the life to come. - -Thou art the Truth, -Who knoweth the secret things. -No God is there but -Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the All-Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I yield Thee thanks for that Thou hast -made me the target of divers tribulations and the mark of manifold trials, - -in order that Thy servants may be endued with new life and all Thy -creatures may be quickened. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Thou the Best Beloved of the worlds and the Desire -of all such as have recognized Thee! -The one reason I wish to live is that -I may reveal Thy Cause, -and I seek the continuance of life only that I may -be touched by adversity in Thy path. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou by Whose summons the hearts of all them who were -nigh unto Thee have soared into the atmosphere of Thy presence, -to send -down upon Thy loved ones what will enable them to dispense with all else -except Thee. -Endue them, -then, -with such constancy that they will arise to -proclaim Thy Cause, -and will call on Thy name, -before all that are in Thy -heaven and on Thy earth, -in such wise that the Pharaonic cruelties -inflicted by the oppressors among Thy servants will not succeed in keeping -them back from Thee. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the God of power, -the God of glory, -the God of strength -and wisdom. - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Behold Thou mine eye expectant to -gaze on the wonders of Thy mercy, -and mine ear longing to hearken unto Thy -sweet melodies, -and my heart yearning for the living waters of Thy -knowledge. -Thou seest Thy handmaiden, -O my God, -standing before the -habitation of Thy mercy, -and calling upon Thee by Thy name which Thou hast -chosen above all other names and set up over all that are in heaven and on -earth. -Send down upon her the breaths of Thy mercy, -that she may be -carried away wholly from herself, -and be drawn entirely towards the seat -which, -resplendent with the glory of Thy face, -sheddeth afar the radiance -of Thy sovereignty, -and is established as Thy throne. -Potent art Thou to -do what Thou willest. -No God is there beside Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the -Most Bountiful. - - -Cast not out, -I entreat Thee, -O my Lord, -them that have sought Thee, -and -turn not away such as have directed their steps towards Thee, -and deprive -not of Thy grace all that love Thee. -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -Who hath -called Himself the God of Mercy, -the Most Compassionate. -Have mercy, -then, - -upon Thy handmaiden who hath sought Thy shelter, -and set her face towards -Thee. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -I testify that no thought of Thee, -howsoever -wondrous, -can ever ascend into the heaven of Thy knowledge, -and no praise -of Thee, -no matter how transcendent, -can soar up to the atmosphere of Thy -wisdom. -From eternity Thou hast been removed far above the reach and the -ken of the comprehension of Thy servants, -and immeasurably exalted above -the strivings of Thy bondslaves to express Thy mystery. -What power can the -shadowy creature claim to possess when face to face with Him Who is the -Uncreated? - - -I bear witness that the highest thoughts of all such as adore Thy unity, - -and the profoundest contemplations of all them that have recognized Thee, - -are but the product of what hath been generated through the movement of -the Pen of Thy behest, -and hath been begotten by Thy will. -I swear by Thy -glory, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of my soul and the Fountain of my life! - -I am persuaded of my powerlessness to describe and extol Thee in a manner -that becometh the greatness of Thy glory and the excellence of Thy -majesty. -Aware as I am of this, -I beseech Thee, -by Thy mercy that hath -surpassed all created things, -and Thy grace that hath embraced the entire -creation, -to accept from Thy servants what they are capable of showing -forth in Thy path. -Aid them, -then, -by Thy strengthening grace, -to exalt -Thy word and to blazon Thy praise. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou, -truly, -art the -All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -I know not, -O my God, -what the Fire is with which Thou didst light the -Lamp of Thy Cause, -or what the Glass wherewith Thou didst preserve it from -Thine enemies. -By Thy might! -I marvel at the wonders of Thy Revelation, - -and at the tokens of Thy glory. -I recognize, -O Thou Who art my heart's -Desire, -that were fire to be touched by water it would instantly be -extinguished, -whereas the Fire which Thou didst kindle can never go out, - -though all the seas of the earth be poured upon it. -Should water at any -time touch it, -the hands of Thy power would, -as decreed in Thy Tablets, - -transmute that water into a fuel that would feed its flame. - - -I, -likewise, -recognize, -O my God, -that every lamp, -when exposed to the -fury of the winds, -must cease from burning. -As to Thy Lamp, -however, -O -Beloved of the worlds, -I cannot think what power except Thy power could -have kept it safe for so many years from the tempests that have -continually been directed upon it by the rebellious among Thy creatures. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O my God! -Thy Lamp which Thou didst light within the -tabernacle of man crieth out to Thee and saith: -"O Thou the one alone -Beloved! -How long wilt Thou forsake me? -Lift me up to Thee, -I pray Thee. - -Though this wish of mine be the wish of a human creature, -yet Thou knowest -that my true wish is to sacrifice myself in Thy path. -Thou art He Who hath -made my desire to be the same as Thy desire, -and my will the same as Thy -will. -Do Thou preserve Thy loved ones, -I beseech Thee, -in the shelter of -Thy shadowing mercy which transcendeth all things, -that haply the -sufferings they bear may not deter them from turning in the direction of -Thy name, -the All-Glorious, -the Most Bountiful. -" - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O my God! -Thou knowest that in my love for Thee I have -not sought any rest, -that in proclaiming Thy Cause I have denied myself -every manner of tranquillity, -and that in the observance of whatever Thou -hast prescribed in Thy Tablets I have not delayed to do Thy bidding. -I -have, -for this reason, -suffered what no man among all the inhabitants of -Thy realm hath suffered. - - -Thy glory beareth me witness! -Nothing whatsoever can withhold me from -remembering Thee, -though all the tribulations of the earth were to assault -me from every direction. -All the limbs and members of my body proclaim -their readiness to be torn asunder in Thy path and for the sake of Thy -pleasure, -and they yearn to be scattered in the dust before Thee. -O would -that they who serve Thee could taste what I have tasted of the sweetness -of Thy love! - - -I implore Thee to supply whosoever hath sought Thee with the living waters -of Thy bounty, -that they may rid him of all attachment to any one but -Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the Omniscient, -the All-Glorious, -the Almighty. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -How great is Thy might and Thy -sovereignty; -how vast Thy strength and Thy dominion! -Thou hast called into -being Him Who speaketh in Thy name before all who are in Thy heaven and on -Thy earth, -and hast bidden Him cry out amongst Thy creatures. - - -No sooner had a word gone forth from His lips, -however, -than the divines -among Thy people turned back from Him, -and the learned among Thy servants -caviled at His signs. -Thereby the fire of oppression was kindled in Thy -land, -until the kings themselves rose up to put out Thy light, -O Thou Who -art the King of kings! - - -Hostility waxed so intense that my kindred and my loved ones were made -captives in Thy land, -and they that are dear to Thee were hindered from -gazing on Thy beauty and from turning in the direction of Thy mercy. -This -hostility failed to cause the fire that burned within them to subside. -The -enemy finally carried away as captive Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy -beauty and the Revealer of Thy signs, -and confined Him in the -fortress-town of Akká, -and sought to hinder Him from remembering Thee and -from magnifying Thy name. -Thy servant, -however, -could not be restrained -from carrying out what Thou hadst bidden Him fulfill. -Above the horizon of -tribulation He hath lifted up His voice and He crieth out, -summoning all -the inmates of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth to the -immensity of Thy mercy and the court of Thy grace. -Day and night He -sendeth down the signs of Thine omnipotent power and revealeth the clear -tokens of Thy majesty, -so that the souls of Thy creatures may be drawn -towards Thee, -that they may forsake themselves and turn unto Thee, -and may -flee from their misery and seek the tabernacle of Thy riches, -and may -haste away from their wretchedness into the court of Thy majesty and -glory. - - -This is the Lamp which the light of Thine own Essence hath lit, -and whose -radiance the winds of discord can never extinguish. -This is the Ocean that -moveth by the power of Thy sovereign might, -and whose waves the influence -of the infidels that have disbelieved in the Judgment Day can never still. - -This is the Sun that shineth in the heaven of Thy will and the splendor of -which the veils of the workers of iniquity and the doubts of the evil -doers can never cloud. - - -I yield Thee thanks, -O my God, -for that Thou hast offered me up as a -sacrifice in Thy path, -and made me a target for the arrows of afflictions -as a token of Thy love for Thy servants, -and singled me out for all manner -of tribulation for the regeneration of Thy people. - - -How sweet to my taste is the savor of woes sent by Thee, -and how dear to -my heart the dispositions of Thy providence! -Perish the soul that fleeth -from the threats of kings in its attempt to save itself in Thy days! -I -swear by Thy glory! -Whoso hath quaffed the living waters of Thy favors can -fear no trouble in Thy path, -neither can he be deterred by any tribulation -from remembering Thee or from celebrating Thy praise. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art my Governor and the Possessor of all names, - -to protect them that have branched out from me (Afnán), -whom Thou hast -caused to be related to Thyself, -and to whom Thou hast, -in this -Revelation, -shown Thy special favor, -and whom Thou hast summoned to draw -nigh unto Thee and to turn towards the horizon of Thy Revelation. -Withhold -not from them, -O my Lord, -the outpourings of Thy mercy or the effulgence -of the Day-Star of Thy grace. -Enable them to distinguish themselves -amongst Thy people, -that they may exalt Thy word and promote Thy Cause. - -Aid them, -O my God, -to do Thy will and pleasure. - - -No God is there but Thee, -the All-Powerful, -the Most Exalted, -the Most -High. - - - - - - - -Glory to Thee, -O my God! -But for the tribulations which are sustained in -Thy path, -how could Thy true lovers be recognized; -and were it not for the -trials which are borne for love of Thee, -how could the station of such as -yearn for Thee be revealed? -Thy might beareth me witness! -The companions -of all who adore Thee are the tears they shed, -and the comforters of such -as seek Thee are the groans they utter, -and the food of them who haste to -meet Thee is the fragments of their broken hearts. - - -How sweet to my taste is the bitterness of death suffered in Thy path, -and -how precious in my estimation are the shafts of Thine enemies when -encountered for the sake of the exaltation of Thy word! -Let me quaff in -Thy Cause, -O my God, -whatsoever Thou didst desire, -and send down upon me -in Thy love all Thou didst ordain. -By Thy glory! -I wish only what Thou -wishest, -and cherish what Thou cherishest. -In Thee have I, -at all times, - -placed my whole trust and confidence. - - -Raise up, -I implore Thee, -O my God, -as helpers to this Revelation such as -shall be counted worthy of Thy name and of Thy sovereignty, -that they may -remember me among Thy creatures, -and hoist the ensigns of Thy victory in -Thy land. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -No God is there but Thee, -the -Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - -Glory to Thee, -O my God! -One of Thy handmaidens, -who hath believed in Thee -and in Thy signs, -hath entered beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy -oneness. -Give her to quaff, -O my God, -by Thy Name, -the Manifest and the -Hidden, -of Thy choice sealed Wine that it may take her away from her own -self, -and make her to be entirely devoted to Thy remembrance, -and wholly -detached from any one beside Thee. - - -Now that Thou hast revealed unto her the knowledge of Thee, -O my Lord, - -deny her not, -by Thy bounty, -Thy grace; -and now that Thou hast called her -unto Thyself, -drive her not away from Thee, -through Thy favor. -Supply her, - -then, -with that which excelleth all that can be found on Thine earth. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Most Bountiful, -Whose grace is immense. - - -Wert Thou to bestow on one of Thy creatures what would equal the kingdoms -of earth and heaven, -it would still not diminish by even as much as an -atom the immensity of Thy dominion. -Far greater art Thou than the Great -One men are wont to call Thee, -for such a title is but one of Thy names -all of which were created by a mere indication of Thy will. - - -There is no God but Thee, -the God of power, -the God of glory, -the God of -knowledge and wisdom. - - - - - - -The hearts that yearn after Thee, -O my God, -are burnt up with the fire of -their longing for Thee, -and the eyes of them that love Thee weep sore by -reason of their crushing separation from Thy court, -and the voice of the -lamentation of such as have set their hopes on Thee hath gone forth -throughout Thy dominions. - - -Thou hast Thyself, -O my God, -protected them, -by Thy sovereign might, -from -both extremities. -But for the burning of their souls and the sighing of -their hearts, -they would be drowned in the midst of their tears, -and but -for the flood of their tears they would be burnt up by the fire of their -hearts and the heat of their souls. -Methinks, -they are like the angels -which Thou hast created of snow and of fire. -Wilt Thou, -despite such -vehement longing, -O my God, -debar them from Thy presence, -or drive them -away, -notwithstanding such fervor, -from the door of Thy mercy? -All hope is -ready to be extinguished in the hearts of Thy chosen ones, -O my God! -Where -are the breezes of Thy grace? -They are hemmed in on all sides by their -enemies; -where are the ensigns of Thy triumph which Thou didst promise in -Thy Tablets? - - -Thy glory is my witness! -At each daybreak they who love Thee wake to find -the cup of woe set before their faces, -because they have believed in Thee -and acknowledged Thy signs. -Though I firmly believe that Thou hast a -greater compassion on them than they have on their own selves, -though I -recognize that Thou hast afflicted them for no other purpose except to -proclaim Thy Cause, -and to enable them to ascend into the heaven of Thine -eternity and the precincts of Thy court, -yet Thou knowest full well the -frailty of some of them, -and art aware of their impatience in their -sufferings. - - -Help them through Thy strengthening grace, -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -to -suffer patiently in their love for Thee, -and unveil to their eyes what -Thou hast decreed for them behind the Tabernacle of Thine unfailing -protection, -so that they may rush forward to meet what is preordained for -them in Thy path, -and may vie in hasting after tribulation in their love -towards Thee. -And if not, -do Thou, -then, -reveal the standards of Thine -ascendancy, -and make them to be victorious over Thine adversaries, -that -Thy sovereignty may be manifested unto all the dwellers of Thy realm, -and -the power of Thy might demonstrated amidst Thy creatures. -Powerful art -Thou to do what Thou willest. -No God is there but Thee, -the Omniscient, - -the All-Wise. - - -Make steadfast Thou, -O my God, -Thy servant who hath believed in Thee to -help Thy Cause, -and keep him safe from all dangers in the stronghold of -Thy care and Thy protection, -both in this life and in the life which is to -come. -Thou, -verily, -rulest as Thou pleasest. -No God is there save Thee, - -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Rain down, -I beseech Thee, -from the -clouds of Thine overflowing grace, -that which shall cleanse the hearts of -Thy servants from whatever may prevent their beholding Thy face, -or may -prevent them from turning unto Thee, -that they may all recognize Him Who -is their Fashioner and Creator. -Help them, -then, -O God, -to reach forth, - -through the power of Thy sovereign might, -towards such a station that they -can readily distinguish every foul smell from the fragrance of the raiment -of Him Who is the Bearer of Thy most lofty and exalted name, -that they may -turn with all their affections toward Thee, -and may enjoy such intimate -communion with Thee that if all that is in heaven and on earth were given -them they would regard it as unworthy of their notice, -and would refuse to -cease from remembering Thee and from extolling Thy virtues. - - -Shield, -I pray Thee, -O my Beloved, -my heart's Desire, -Thy servant who hath -sought Thy face, -from the darts of them that have denied Thee and from the -shafts of such as have repudiated Thy Truth. -Cause him, -then, -to be wholly -devoted to Thee, -to declare Thy name, -and to fix his gaze upon the -sanctuary of Thy Revelation. -Thou art, -in truth, -He Who, -at no time, -hath -turned away those who have set their hopes in Thee from the door of Thy -mercy, -nor prevented such as have sought Thee from attaining the court of -Thy grace. -No God is there but Thee, -the Most Powerful, -the All-Highest, - -the Help in Peril, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Compelling, -the -Unconditioned. - - - - - - -Magnified, -O Lord my God, -be Thy Name, -whereby the trees of the garden of -Thy Revelation have been clad with verdure, -and been made to yield the -fruits of holiness during this Springtime when the sweet savors of Thy -favors and blessings have been wafted over all things, -and caused them to -bring forth whatsoever had been preordained for them in the Kingdom of -Thine irrevocable decree and the Heaven of Thine immutable purpose. -I -beseech Thee by this very Name not to suffer me to be far from the court -of Thy holiness, -nor debarred from the exalted sanctuary of Thy unity and -oneness. - - -Ignite, -then, -O my God, -within my breast the fire of Thy love, -that its -flame may burn up all else except my remembrance of Thee, -that every trace -of corrupt desire may be entirely mortified within me, -and that naught may -remain except the glorification of Thy transcendent and all-glorious -Being. -This is my highest aspiration, -mine ardent desire, -O Thou Who -rulest all things, -and in Whose hand is the kingdom of the entire -creation. -Thou, -verily, -doest what Thou choosest. -No God is there beside -Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee by Thy Name that hath -caused to surge within every drop the oceans of Thy loving-kindness and -mercy, -and to shine within every atom the luminaries of Thy bountiful -blessings and favors, ---I implore Thee to adorn every soul with the ornament -of Thy love, -that none may remain on Thine earth who hath not turned -towards Thee, -or hath failed to detach himself from all except Thy Self. - - -Thou hast, -verily, -O my God, -suffered Him Who is the Manifestation of -Thine own Self to be afflicted with all manner of adversity in order that -Thy servants may ascend unto the pinnacle of Thy gracious favor, -and -attain unto that which Thou hast, -through Thy providence and tender -mercies, -ordained for them in the Tablets of Thine irrevocable decree. -The -glory of Thy might beareth me witness! -Were they, -every moment of their -lives, -to offer up themselves as a sacrifice in Thy path, -they would still -have done but little in comparison with the manifold bestowals vouchsafed -unto them by Thee. - - -Grant, -therefore, -I beseech Thee, -that their hearts may be inclined -towards Thee, -and that their faces may be turned in the direction of Thy -good-pleasure. -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest. -No God is there -but Thee, -the Inaccessible, -the All-Glorious, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - -Deign, -then, -to accept, -O my God, -from Thy servant the things which he -hath shown forth in his love for Thee. -Fortify him, -then, -that he may -cling to Thy most exalted Word, -and to unloose his tongue to celebrate Thy -praise, -and cause him to be gathered unto such of Thy people as are nigh -unto Thee. -Thou art He within Whose grasp is the empire of all things. - -There is no God but Thee, -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the -All-Glorious, -the Unconstrained. - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of the souls of -all them that have recognized Thee, -and in Whose right hand are the -destinies of all that are in heaven and all that are on earth! -Thou doest, - -through the power of Thy might, -what Thou willest, -and ordainest, -by an -act of Thy volition, -what Thou pleasest. -The will of the most resolute of -men is as nothing when compared with the compelling evidences of Thy will, - -and the determination of the most inflexible among Thy creatures is -dissipated before the manifold revelations of Thy purpose. - - -Thou art He Who, -through a word of Thy mouth, -hath so enravished the -hearts of Thy chosen ones that they have, -in their love for Thee, -detached -themselves from all except Thyself, -and laid down their lives and -sacrificed their souls in Thy path, -and borne, -for Thy sake, -what none of -Thy creatures hath borne. - - -I am one of Thy handmaidens, -O my Lord! -I have turned my face towards the -habitation of Thy mercy, -and have sought the wonders of Thy manifold -favors, -inasmuch as all the members of my body proclaim Thee to be the -All-Bounteous, -He Whose grace is immense. - - -O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, -Whose beauty is my -sanctuary, -Whose court is my goal, -Whose remembrance is my wish, -Whose -affection is my solace, -Whose love is my begetter, -Whose praise is my -companion, -Whose nearness is my hope, -Whose presence is my greatest -longing and supreme aspiration! -Disappoint me not, -I entreat Thee, -by -withholding from me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among -Thy handmaidens, -and supply me with the good of this world and of the -world to come. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Lord of creation. -No God is there beside Thee, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I pray Thee, -by Him Who is the -Day-Spring of Thy signs and the Manifestation of Thy names, -and the -Treasury of Thine inspiration, -and the Repository of Thy wisdom, -to send -upon Thy loved ones that which will enable them to cleave steadfastly to -Thy Cause, -and to recognize Thy unity, -and to acknowledge Thy oneness, -and -to bear witness to Thy divinity. -Raise them up, -O my God, -to such heights -that they will recognize in all things the tokens of the power of Him Who -is the Manifestation of Thy most august and all-glorious Self. - - -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -Who doeth what He willeth, -and ordaineth what He -pleaseth. -Every possessor of power is forlorn before the revelations of -Thy might, -and every fountain of honor becomes abject when confronted by -the manifold evidences of Thy great glory. - - -I beseech Thee, -by Thyself and by whatsoever is of Thee, -to grant that I -may help Thy Cause and speak of Thy praise, -and set my heart on the -sanctuary of Thy glory, -and detach myself from all that pertaineth not -unto Thee. -No God is there beside Thee, -the God of power, -the God of glory -and wisdom. - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou beholdest my perplexity, -and the -depth of mine anguish, -and the agony of my soul, -and the afflictions which -beset me. -By Thy glory! -My heart crieth to Thee by reason of the things -that have befallen my loved ones in Thy path, -and mine eyes run down with -tears for them who, -in these days, -have ascended unto Thee, -who have cast -the world behind their backs, -and set their faces towards the shores of -Thy transcendent mercy. - - -Clothe them, -O my God, -with the robe of Thy favor and the raiment of Thy -loving providence, -which Thou hast reserved for Thine own Self and woven -with the hands of Thy manifold bounties and gifts. -Give them, -then, -to -drink, -from the hands of Thy loving-kindness, -of the cups of Thy -measureless mercy. -Cause them, -moreover, -O my Best-Beloved, -to abide -within the precincts of Thy court and around Thy most effulgent -Tabernacle. -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. - - -And now I implore Thee, -by the eternity of Thy Self, -to enable me to be -patient in these tribulations which have caused the Concourse on high to -wail and the denizens of the everlasting Paradise to weep, -and through -which all faces have been covered with the tawny dust provoked by the -anguish that hath seized such of Thy servants as have turned towards Thy -Name, -the Most Exalted, -the Most High. -No God is there but Thee, -the -Almighty, -the Inaccessible, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - -All Thy servants, -O my God, -are occupied with their own selves, -so great -have been the troubles which, -as decreed by Thee, -have encompassed them on -every side. -My tongue, -however, -is busied in extolling Thy chosen ones, - -and my heart in remembering them that are dear to Thee and are wholly -subject to Thy will. - - -Look not on my state, -O my God, -nor my failure to serve Thee, -nay rather -regard the oceans of Thy mercy and favors, -and the things that beseem Thy -glory and Thy forgiveness and befit Thy loving-kindness and bounties. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -Thou beholdest what the tongue of no one -except Thee can utter, -and bearest witness unto things which no mouth can -recount. -The floods of afflictions are let loose, -and the winds of Thy -judgment have blown, -and from the clouds rain down the darts of tests, -and -the heavens of Thy decree pour forth the arrows of trial. - - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -how Thy servants, -who have believed on Thee and -acknowledged Thy signs, -have fallen into the clutches of Thine enemies, - -how the doors of ease and comfort have been shut against them, -how they -languish in the Fortress wherein neither pleasantness nor hope can be -found. -They have suffered in Thy path what no man before them hath -suffered. -To this bear witness they who abide around Thy throne, -and the -dwellers of the earth, -and the Concourse on high. - - -These, -O my God, -are Thy servants who, -for love of Thy beauty, -have -forsaken their homes, -and been so stirred up by the gentle winds of their -desire for Thee that they have sundered every tie in Thy path. -Such of Thy -servants as dwell in Thy land and have transgressed against Thee have -assailed them, -and banished them from Thy cities, -and made them captives, - -and delivered them into the hands of workers of iniquity among Thy people -and the perverse amidst the wicked doers in Thy realm. -And finally, -they -were made to abide in this place with which no other place, -however -loathsome, -in all Thy dominion, -can compare. -They were seized with such -trials that the clouds weep over them and the thunder groaneth by reason -of the manifold tribulations that have afflicted them in their love for -Thee and for the sake of Thy pleasure. - - -Thou knowest full well, -O my God, -that there is no one on Thine earth who -can claim to be related to Thee except these, -some of whom have suffered -martyrdom for Thy sake, -while the rest have been permitted to survive. - -Though for such as are like unto us, -O my God, -it beseemeth not to claim -to be related to Thee, -inasmuch as our misdeeds and our waywardness have -hindered us from reaching the depths of the ocean of Thy oneness, -and from -immersing ourselves beneath the waters of Thy transcendent mercy, -yet our -tongues, -O my God, -bear witness, -and our hearts testify, -and our limbs -confess that Thy mercy hath enveloped all created things and Thy -compassion surpassed all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. - - -I beseech Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name, -through which all created things -were rent asunder and the whole creation was shaken, -to send down from the -clouds of Thy mercy that which will purge them from every ordeal and from -whatever is hateful to Thee. -Raise them up, -then, -to such heights that no -amount of tribulation will keep them back from Thy wondrous remembrance, - -nor any trouble hinder them from turning toward the court of Thy -transcendent oneness. - - -By Thy might, -O Well-Beloved of Bahá and His heart's Desire! -I myself cry -out, -under all conditions, -unto Thee saying: -"Would I had, -ere this day, - -drawn nigh unto Thee! -" When I hear, -however, -the sighs of such of Thy -people as are wholly devoted to Thee, -and those of Thy servants as enjoy -near access to Thy court, -who have taken no other friend than Thee, -and -sought no refuge except Thee, -and have chosen for themselves, -in Thy path, - -what no man hath chosen in the days of the Manifestations of Thy -transcendent unity and the Day-Springs of Thy most holy sovereignty, -then -my heart is saddened and my soul is vexed, -and I cry to Thee, -imploring -Thee to protect them, -by Thy power that hath encompassed the entire -creation both visible and invisible, -from whatsoever may be abhorrent to -Thee. -This is not for their own sakes, -but that Thy name may, -through -them, -abide amongst Thy servants, -and Thy remembrance may continue to -endure in Thy dominions. - - -Thou knowest, -O my God, -that all Thy servants have turned back from Thee -and risen up against Thee. -Thou knowest that Thou hast no one to obey Thee -except them and such as have believed in Thy Revelation, -through which the -foundations of the entire universe have been shaken, -and the souls of all -men have trembled, -and all that lay asleep were quickened. -Thou art, -O my -God, -the God of bounty, -Whose grace is immense. - - -Send down, -then, -upon them that which will assure their hearts, -and quiet -their souls, -and renew their spirits, -and refresh their bodies. -Thou art, - -verily, -their Lord and the Lord of the worlds. - - -Praised be God, -the Lord of all creation! - - - - - - - - -Glory to Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all worlds, -and the Beloved of -all such as have recognized Thee! -Thou seest me sitting under a sword -hanging on a thread, -and art well aware that in such a state I have not -fallen short of my duty towards Thy Cause, -nor failed to shed abroad Thy -praise, -and declare Thy virtues, -and deliver all Thou hadst prescribed -unto me in Thy Tablets. -Though the sword be ready to fall on my head, -I -call Thy loved ones with such a calling that the hearts are carried away -towards the horizon of Thy majesty and grandeur. - - -Purge out thoroughly their ears, -O my Lord, -that they may hearken unto the -sweet melodies that have ascended from the right hand of the throne of Thy -glory. -I swear by Thy might! -Were any one to attune his ears to their -harmony he would soar up to the kingdom of Thy revelation, -wherein every -created thing proclaimeth that Thou art God, -and that there is none other -God save Thee, -the Omnipotent, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - -Cleanse Thou, -O my God, -the eyes of Thy servants, -and so transport them by -the sweetness of Thine utterances that calamities will be powerless to -hinder them from turning unto Thee, -and from directing their eyes towards -the horizon of Thy Revelation. - - -Darkness hath encompassed every land, -O my God, -and caused most of Thy -servants to tremble. -I beseech Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name, -to raise in -every city a new creation that shall turn towards Thee, -and shall remember -Thee amidst Thy servants, -and shall unfurl by virtue of their utterances -and wisdom the ensigns of Thy victory, -and shall detach themselves from -all created things. - - -Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -No God is there but Thee, -the Most -Powerful, -He Whose help is implored by all men. - - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -Thou in Whose hand are the heaven of omnipotence and the -kingdom of creation. -Thou doest, -by Thy sovereignty, -what Thou willest, - -and ordainest, -through the power of Thy might, -what Thou pleasest. -From -eternity Thou hast been exalted above the praise of all created things, - -and wilt to eternity remain far above the glorification of any one of Thy -creatures. -Existence itself testifieth to its non-existence when face to -face with the manifold revelations of Thy transcendent oneness, -and every -created thing confesseth, -by its very nature, -its nothingness when -compared with the sacred splendors of the light of Thy unity. -Thou hast, - -in Thyself, -been independent of any one besides Thee and rich enough, -in -Thine own essence, -to dispense with any one except Thy Self. -Every -description by which they who adore Thy unity describe Thee, -and every -praise wherewith they who are devoted unto Thee praise Thee, -are but the -traces of the pen which the fingers of Thy strength and power have set in -motion--fingers whose movement is controlled by the arm of Thy decree--the -arm itself animated by the potency of Thy might. - - -Thy glory beareth me witness! -How can I, -aware as I am of this truth, -hope -to befittingly make mention of Thee and celebrate Thy praise? -Howsoever I -describe Thee, -whichever of Thy virtues I recount, -I cannot but blush and -feel ashamed of what my tongue hath uttered or my pen written. - - -The quintessence of knowledge, -O my Lord, -proclaimeth its powerlessness to -know Thee, -and perplexity, -in its very soul, -confesseth its bewilderment -in the face of the revelations of Thy sovereign might, -and remembrance, -in -its inmost spirit, -acknowledgeth its forgetfulness and effacement before -the manifestations of Thy signs and the evidences of Thy praise. -What, - -then, -can this poor creature hope to achieve, -and to what cord must this -wretched soul cling? - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of the worlds, -and the Beloved of -such as have recognized Thee, -and the Desire of all that are in heaven and -on earth, -by Thy Name through which the cry of every suppliant hath -ascended into the heaven of Thy transcendent holiness, -through which every -seeker hath soared to the sublimities of Thy unity and grandeur, -through -which the imperfect have been perfected, -and the abased exalted, -and the -tongue of every stammerer unloosed, -and the sick made whole, -and whatever -was unworthy of Thy highness and beseemed not Thy greatness and Thy -sovereignty made acceptable unto Thee, ---I beseech Thee to aid us by Thine -invisible hosts and by a company of the angels of Thy Cause. -Do Thou, - -then, -accept the works we have performed for love of Thee, -and for the -sake of Thy pleasure. -Cast us not away, -O my God, -from the door of Thy -mercy, -and break not our hopes in the wonders of Thy grace and favors. - - -Our limbs, -our members, -O my Lord, -bear witness to Thy unity and oneness. - -Send down upon us Thy strength and power, -that we may become steadfast in -Thy Faith and may aid Thee among Thy servants. -Illumine our eyes, -O my -Lord, -with the effulgence of Thy beauty, -and enlighten our hearts with the -splendors of Thy knowledge and wisdom. -Write us up, -then, -with those who -have fulfilled their pledge to Thy Covenant in Thy days, -and who, -through -their love for Thee, -have detached themselves from the world and all that -is therein. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou pleasest. -No God is there beside Thee, - -the All-Powerful, -the Omniscient, -the Supreme Ruler, -the Help in Peril, - -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -O Thou Whose nearness is my wish, -Whose presence is my hope, -Whose -remembrance is my desire, -Whose court of glory is my goal, -Whose abode is -my aim, -Whose name is my healing, -Whose love is the radiance of my heart, - -Whose service is my highest aspiration! -I beseech Thee by Thy Name, - -through which Thou hast enabled them that have recognized Thee to soar to -the sublimest heights of the knowledge of Thee and empowered such as -devoutly worship Thee to ascend into the precincts of the court of Thy -holy favors, -to aid me to turn my face towards Thy face, -to fix mine eyes -upon Thee, -and to speak of Thy glory. - - -I am the one, -O my Lord, -who hath forgotten all else but Thee, -and turned -towards the Day-Spring of Thy grace, -who hath forsaken all save Thyself in -the hope of drawing nigh unto Thy court. -Behold me, -then, -with mine eyes -lifted up towards the Seat that shineth with the splendors of the light of -Thy Face. -Send down, -then, -upon me, -O my Beloved, -that which will enable -me to be steadfast in Thy Cause, -so that the doubts of the infidels may -not hinder me from turning towards Thee. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the God of Power, -the Help in Peril, -the All-Glorious, - -the Almighty. - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou art He the excellence of Whose glory -hath exalted them who are the sources of authority and honor, -the potency -of Whose might hath empowered them who are the fountain-heads of energy -and strength, -the dominion of Whose will hath elevated the Exponents of -Thy Cause above all that are in heaven and on earth, -and the life-giving -effusions of Whose Pen have quickened the souls of the denizens of the -kingdom of creation. - - -I am he, -O my Lord, -who, -wholly for Thy sake, -hath turned his face unto -Thee, -and who, -while acknowledging Thy power and Thy sovereignty, -hath -directed his steps towards Thy dearly-loved Sanctuary, -and Thine adored -and hallowed Court. -In this state I have reached the City (Ba_gh_dád) -wherein, -in the full glory of Thy names, -Thou didst reveal Thy Self unto -all created things. -In it I have communed with Thy loved ones, -and from -the House within its walls I have inhaled the breaths of Thy holiness and -perceived the fragrances of Thy fellowship. - - -Cast me not from Thy presence, -O my Lord, -neither do Thou drive me away -from the shores of Thy love and Thy good-pleasure. -For the poor can find -no refuge unless he knocketh at the door of Thy wealth, -and the outcast -can find no peace until he be admitted to the court of Thy favor. - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O my Lord, -for Thou hast enabled me to recognize -the Manifestation of Thine own Self, -and hast caused me to be assured of -the truth of the verses which have descended upon Thee. -Empower me, -I -implore Thee, -to cling steadfastly unto whatsoever Thou hast bidden me -observe. -Help me to guard the pearls of Thy love which, -by Thy decree, - -Thou hast enshrined within my heart. -Send down, -moreover, -every moment of -my life, -O my God, -that which will preserve me from any one but Thee, -and -will set my feet firm in Thy Cause. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the God of glory, -the God of power, -the God of knowledge -and wisdom. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Great Giver, -the -All-Bountiful, -the Almighty, -the Ever-Forgiving. - - -Praised be God, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Compelling. - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -I give Thee thanks inasmuch as Thou -hast called me into being in Thy days, -and infused into me Thy love and -Thy knowledge. -I beseech Thee, -by Thy name whereby the goodly pearls of -Thy wisdom and Thine utterance were brought forth out of the treasuries of -the hearts of such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee, -and through -which the Day-Star of Thy name, -the Compassionate, -hath shed its radiance -upon all that are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, -to supply me, -by Thy -grace and bounty, -with Thy wondrous and hidden bounties. - - -These are the earliest days of my life, -O my God, -which Thou hast linked -with Thine own days. -Now that Thou hast conferred upon me so great an -honor, -withhold not from me the things Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen -ones. - - -I am, -O my God, -but a tiny seed which Thou hast sown in the soil of Thy -love, -and caused to spring forth by the hand of Thy bounty. -This seed -craveth, -therefore, -in its inmost being, -for the waters of Thy mercy and -the living fountain of Thy grace. -Send down upon it, -from the heaven of -Thy loving-kindness, -that which will enable it to flourish beneath Thy -shadow and within the borders of Thy court. -Thou art He Who watereth the -hearts of all that have recognized Thee from Thy plenteous stream and the -fountain of Thy living waters. - - -Praised be God, -the Lord of the worlds. - - - - - - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by that Remembrance of Thee through which all -things have been raised to life, -and through which all faces have been -made to shine, -not to frustrate the hopes I have set on the things Thou -dost possess. -Cause me, -then, -by Thy mercy, -to enter beneath Thy shadow -that shadoweth all things. - - -Be Thou, -O my Lord, -my sole Desire, -my Goal, -mine only Hope, -my constant -Aim, -my Habitation and my Sanctuary. -Let the object of mine ardent quest -be Thy most resplendent, -Thine adorable, -and ever-blessed Beauty. -I -implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by whatsoever is of Thee, -to send, -from the right -hand of Thy might, -that which will exalt Thy loved ones and abase Thine -enemies. - - -No God is there beside Thee, -Thou alone art my Beloved in this world and -in the world which is to come. -Thou alone art the Desire of all them that -have recognized Thee. - - -Praised be God, -the Lord of the worlds. - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God, -that Thou hast been true to what the Pen of Thy -Revelation hath inscribed upon the Tablets sent down by Thee unto Them -Whom Thou hast chosen above all Thy creatures, -and through Whom Thou hast -unlocked the doors of Thy mercy, -and shed abroad the radiance of the light -of Thy guidance. -Glory to Thee that Thou hast laid bare what had from -eternity been wrapped up within the Tabernacle of Thy majesty, -Thine -omnipotence and glory, -and through which Thou hadst decked forth the -heaven of Thy Revelation and adorned the pages of the book of Thy -testimony. - - -And when the Pledge was fulfilled and the Promised One appeared, -He was -rejected by such of Thy servants as profess to have believed in Him in -Whom Thy Godhead was manifested, -Whom Thou didst ordain to be the Herald -of this Revelation, -and through Whose advent the eyes of the inmates of -the sanctuary of Thy unity were cheered. - - -I know, -O my Lord, -neither their reasoning with which they have -acknowledged Thee and believed in Thy signs, -nor their argument whereby -they have repudiated Thy sovereignty. -Every time I call them to Thee and -say: -"O people! -Consider the utterances of the Lord your God which are in -your possession and those that have been sent down from the heaven of His -will and power, -" they cavil at Thee, -and turn their backs to Thee, - -though--as Thou art aware--each of the words that have gone out of the mouth -of Thy will sheddeth the fragrance of the breaths of Thy mercy. - - -Some have chosen to cleave to him who is counted unworthy to converse with -any of Thy servants that watch at Thy door (Mírzá Yahyá), -how much more to -enter into the court in which the Tongue of Thy majesty speaketh. -Cleanse -Thou their hearts and their eyes, -O my Lord, -that they may see with their -eyes and understand with their hearts, -that haply they may be attracted by -Thine utterances to the Day-Spring of Thine inspiration, -and draw nigh -unto the soft-flowing stream of Thy knowledge. - - -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -Who hath, -in every line of Thy Book, -entered into -covenant with them for me, -and made it so sure that none of Thy creatures -can any longer evade it. -Thou didst say--and Thy word is the truth: -"One -single letter from Him excelleth all that hath been sent down in the -Bayán. -" - -Thou dost consider, -therefore, -O my God, -how they have transgressed -against Thy Cause, -and beholdest what their hands have wrought in Thy -days. -They have so grievously wronged me that the Lote-Tree of Thy -Revelation moaneth, -and the inmates of the Tabernacle of Thy majesty and -the dwellers of the cities of Thy names lament. -I know not, -O my God, -for -what reason they have risen up to oppress me, -and by what proof they have -turned aside from Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs. -I beseech Thee, - -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Creator of the heavens, -to -aid them to act equitably in Thy Cause, -that haply they may discover the -sweet smell of the robe of Thy mercy, -and set their faces towards the -horizon that shineth with the brightness of the light of Thy face. -Weak -are they, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the Lord of strength and power. -They are -but paupers, -and Thou art the All-Possessing, -the Most Generous. - - -Thou art well aware, -O my God, -that throughout my life I have sought no -advantage for myself. -I have offered up my spirit and my whole being for -the exaltation of Thy word amidst Thy creatures and the glorification of -Thy name among Thy servants. -Thou didst send me with such a Testimony that -They Who are the Exponents of Thy Revelation and the Day-Springs of Thine -inspiration were stirred up with vehement longing. -Through it, -Thy proof -was established, -and Thy bounty fulfilled, -and Thy Cause perfected, -and -Thine utterances released, -and Thy clear tokens uncovered. - - -Thou knowest, -O my God, -that I have wished only what Thou hast wished, -and -desire what Thou dost desire. -Were I to speak forth before Thy servants -the things wherewith Thou didst, -through Thy bounty, -inspire me and which -Thou didst command me to utter amidst Thy creatures, -the oppressors among -Thy people would cavil at me. -And were I to hold my peace and cease to -celebrate the wonders of Thy praise, -all the limbs of my body would be -stirred up to extol Thee. -I know not what the water is with which Thou -didst create me, -or what the fire Thou didst kindle within me. -I swear by -Thy glory! -I shall not cease to mention Thee, -though all that are in Thy -heaven and on Thy earth rise up against me. -Thee will I magnify, -in all -circumstances, -with a heart wholly rid of all attachment to the world and -all that is therein. - - -Praised be Thou, -the Well-Beloved of the hearts of all such as have -recognized Thee. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou beholdest how my gaze is fixed -toward Thy tender mercies, -and how mine eyes are bent upon the horizon of -Thy grace, -and Thy loving-kindness, -and how my hands are stretched out -unto the heaven of Thy bestowals. -Thy might beareth me witness! -Every limb -of my body crieth out to Thee and saith: -"O Thou Who art the Well-Beloved -of the worlds, -and the Lord of all that are in heaven and on earth, -and -the one Desire of the hearts which are devoted to Thee! -I implore Thee, -by -Thine Ocean unto which Thou didst summon all the inmates of heaven and all -the dwellers of the earth, -to help Thy servants who have been kept back -from turning unto it and from approaching its shores. -Make them, -then, -O -my God, -to be detached from all else but Thee, -and enable them to speak -forth Thy praise and extol Thy virtues. -Supply them, -moreover, -O my God, - -with the choice Wine of Thy mercy, -that it may cause them to be forgetful -of any one except Thee, -and to arise to serve Thy Cause, -and to be -steadfast in their love for Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the Lord of their -lives and the Object of their adoration. -If they be driven away by Thee, - -who will then look upon them; -and if they be removed far from Thee, -who is -there that can help them to approach Thy Presence? -I swear by Thy might! - -No refuge is there to flee to except Thee, -and no shelter to seek except -Thy shelter, -and no protection except Thy protection. -Woe betide him who -hath taken as Lord any one beside Thee, -and blessed are the ones who have -rid themselves of all attachment to all the dwellers of Thine earth, -and -clung to the hem of Thy bounteousness. -These! -the people of Bahá, -before -all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. -No God is there but -Thee, -the Omniscient, -the All-Wise. -" - -Praise be to God, -the Lord of all worlds. - - - - - - -I know not, -O my God, -whether I should speak forth the wonders of Thy -praise among Thy servants, -and lay bare before them the secrets of Thy -mercy and the mysteries of Thy Cause, -or keep them wrapped up within the -receptacle of my heart. -Though the lover be loth to share with any one the -intimate conversation of his beloved, -yet at whatever time Thine -inescapable commandment to declare Thy Cause reacheth me, -I will -unhesitatingly obey it. -I would proclaim Thee, -undeterred by the darts of -affliction that may rain down upon me from the clouds of Thy decree. - - -I swear by Thy might! -Neither the hosts of the earth nor those of heaven -can keep me back from revealing the things I am commanded to manifest. -I -have no will before Thy will, -and can cherish no desire in the face of Thy -desire. -By Thy grace I am, -at all times, -ready to serve Thee and am rid of -all attachment to any one except Thee. - - -What I desire, -however, -O my God, -is that Thou shouldst bid me unveil the -things which lie hid in Thy knowledge, -so that they who are wholly devoted -to Thee may, -in their longing for Thee, -soar up into the atmosphere of Thy -oneness, -and the infidels may be seized with trembling and may return to -the nethermost fire, -the abode ordained for them by Thee through the power -of Thy sovereign might. - - -Thou dost consider, -O my Lord, -how Thy dear ones are sore pressed by Thine -enemies, -and hearest from all sides their sighing by reason of what hath -befallen them in Thy path. -Thou knowest, -O my Lord, -that their one desire -was to seek Thy face, -and that the sole Object of their adoration was -Thee. -They who wronged them had no other purpose except to turn them away -from Thee, -and to extinguish the fire which Thou hadst kindled with the -hands of Thine almighty power. - - -Unseal the lips of Thy will, -O my Lord, -and let a word proceed therefrom -that shall subject unto itself the world and all that is therein. -How long -shalt Thou behold these things and tarry, -O my God? -Darkness hath -enveloped the whole earth, -and Thy tokens are ready to be blotted out -throughout Thy realm. - - -Forgive me, -O my God, -for what I have spoken, -for Thou art the One that -knoweth all things, -and in Thee are wrapped up the secrets that are hid -from all else except Thyself. -When Thy promise shall come to pass, -Thou -wilt manifest what Thou wilt, -and subdue as Thou pleasest. -We should wish -only what Thou hast wished for us. -In Thee is the knowledge of all things, - -and with Thee is the issue of all things. -Thou art, -verily, -the Truth, -the -Knower of things unseen. - - -Forgive me, -then, -my sins and the sins of them that love me, -and supply -them with the good of this world and of the next. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -Thou beholdest both the helplessness of Thy -dear ones and the ascendancy of Thy foes, -both the wretchedness of Thy -chosen ones and the glory of them who gainsaid Thy Cause and repudiated -Thy signs. -The latter deny Thy tokens, -and fail to repay Thee for the -temporal benefits Thou didst bestow upon them, -while the former yield Thee -thanks for what hath befallen them in their eagerness to partake of the -everlasting gifts Thou dost possess. - - -How sweet is the thought of Thee in times of adversity and trial, -and how -delightful to glorify Thee when compassed about with the fierce winds of -Thy decree! -Thou knowest full well, -O my God, -that I endure patiently -whatsoever toucheth me in Thy path. -Nay, -I perceive that all the members -and limbs of my body long for tribulation, -that I may manifest Thy Cause, - -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names! -The waters of Thy love have -preserved me in the kingdom of Thy creation, -and the fire of my -remembrance of Thee hath set me ablaze before all that are in heaven and -on earth. -Great is my blessedness, -and great the blessedness of this fire -whose flame crieth out: -"No God is there save Thee, -Who art the Object of -my heart's adoration, -and the Source and Center of my soul! -" - -Thy glory beareth me witness! -Were all that are in the heavens and all -that are on earth to unite and seek to hinder me from remembering Thee and -from celebrating Thy praise, -they would assuredly have no power over me, - -and would fail in their purpose. -And were the infidels to slay me, -my -blood would, -at Thy command, -lift up its voice and proclaim: -"There is no -God but Thee, -O Thou Who art all my heart's Desire! -" And were my flesh to -be boiled in the cauldron of hate, -the smell which it would send forth -would rise towards Thee and cry out: -"Where art Thou, -O Lord of the -worlds, -Thou One Desire of them that have known Thee! -" And were I to be -cast into fire, -my ashes would--I swear by Thy glory--declare: -"The Youth -hath, -verily, -attained that for which he had besought his Lord, -the -All-Glorious, -the Omniscient. -" - -How, -then, -can such a man be fearful of the combination of the kings to -injure him in Thy Cause? -No, -no, -I swear by Thyself, -O Thou Who art the -King of kings! -Such is my love for Thee that I can fear no one, -though the -powers of all the worlds be arrayed against me. -Alone and unaided I have, - -by the power of Thy might, -arisen to proclaim Thy Cause, -unafraid of the -host of my oppressors. - - -To all that dwell on earth I cry aloud and say: -"Fear ye God, -O ye -servants of God, -and suffer not yourselves to be kept back from this pure -Wine that hath flowed from the right hand of the throne of the mercy of -your Lord, -the Most Merciful. -I swear by God! -Better for you is what He -possesseth than the things ye yourselves possess and the things ye have -sought and are now seeking in this vain and empty life. -Forsake the world, - -and set your faces towards the all-glorious Horizon. -Whoso hath partaken -of the wine of His remembrance will forget every other remembrance, -and -whoso hath recognized Him will rid himself of all attachment to this life -and to all that pertaineth unto it. -" - -I implore Thee, -O my God and my Master, -by Thy word through which they who -have believed in Thy unity have soared up into the atmosphere of Thy -knowledge, -and they who are devoted to Thee have ascended into the heaven -of Thy oneness, -to inspire Thy loved ones with that which will assure -their hearts in Thy Cause. -Endue them with such steadfastness that nothing -whatsoever will hinder them from turning towards Thee. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Bountiful, -the Munificent, -the Forgiving, -the -Compassionate. - - - - - - - - -Thou beholdest, -O my God, -how bewildered in their drunkenness are Thy -servants who have turned back from Thy beauty and caviled at what hath -been sent down from the right hand of the throne of Thy majesty. -Thou -didst come, -O my God, -in the clouds of Thy spirit and Thine utterance, -and -lo, -the entire creation shook and trembled, -and the limbs of them who -repudiated Thy testimonies were made to quiver, -O Thou in Whose grasp is -the lordship of all things! - - -Thou art He, -O my God, -Who hast summoned all men to turn in the direction -of Thy mercy, -and called them unto the horizon of Thy grace and bounties. - -None, -however, -heeded Thy call, -except such as have forsaken all things -save Thee, -and hastened unto the Day-Spring of Thy beauty, -and the -Dawning-Place of Thine inspiration and Thy revelation. - - -Thou knowest, -O my God, -that none can be found on the face of the earth to -remember Thee except them. -Thou seest how the oppressors among Thy -creatures have laid hold on them. -Some, -O my God, -have shed their blood in -Thy path, -others have abandoned their homes and set their faces towards -the seat of Thy throne, -and were hindered from stepping into the court of -Thy great glory, -while still others have been cast into prison and are at -the mercy of the workers of iniquity. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who holdest in Thy hands the reins of unconstrained -power, -to succor them through the wondrous potency of Thy might. -Misery, -O -my Lord, -hath taken hold on them in Thy path, -exalt them by the power of -Thy sovereignty; -and weariness hath afflicted them in their love for Thee, - -render them victorious, -through Thy strength and Thine omnipotence, -over -Thine enemies. - - -Aware as I am, -O my God, -that Thou hast decreed for them that which -excelleth whatsoever is in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, -I still cherish -the desire that Thou mayest behold them in Thy days exalted and honored by -Thy creatures. -Supreme art Thou over Thy creation. -All are held within Thy -grasp, -and lie prisoned in the hollow of Thy hand. -No God is there but -Thee, -the All-Powerful, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -Magnified be Thy name, -O my God! -I testify that if Thy servants were to -turn towards Thee with the eyes Thou didst create in them and with the -ears wherewith Thou didst endow them, -they would all be carried away by a -single word sent down from the right hand of the throne of Thy majesty. - -That word alone would suffice to brighten their faces, -and to assure their -hearts, -and to cause their souls to soar up to the atmosphere of Thy great -glory, -and to ascend into the heaven of Thy sovereignty. - - -I pray Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Ruler of both -earth and heaven, -to grant that all who are dear to Thee may each become a -cup of Thy mercy in Thy days, -that they may quicken the hearts of Thy -servants. -Empower them also, -O my God, -to be as the rain that poureth down -from the clouds of Thy grace, -and as the winds that waft the vernal -fragrances of Thy loving-kindness, -that through them the soil of the -hearts of Thy creatures may be clad with verdure, -and may bring forth the -things that will shed their fragrance over all Thy dominion, -so that every -one may perceive the sweet smell of the Robe of Thy Revelation. -Potent art -Thou to do what Thou willest. - - -The power of Thy might beareth me witness! -Whoso hath drunk of the cup -which the hand of Thy mercy hath borne round will strip himself of all -things except Thee, -and will be able, -through a word of his mouth, -to -enrapture the souls of such of Thy servants as have slumbered on the bed -of forgetfulness and negligence, -and to cause them to turn their faces -toward Thy most Great Sign, -and seek from Thee naught else except Thyself, - -and ask of Thee only what Thou hast determined for them by the pen of Thy -judgment and hast prescribed in the Tablet of Thy decree. - - -Send down, -then, -O my God, -through Thy Most Great Name, -upon Thy loved -ones what will, -under all conditions, -draw them nearer unto Thee. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -Whose help is implored by all -men. - - - - - - - -Mine eyes are cheered, -O my God, -when I contemplate the tribulations that -descend upon me from the heaven of Thy decree, -and which have encompassed -me on every side according to what Thy pen hath irrevocably established. -I -swear by Thy Self! -Whatsoever is of Thee is well pleasing unto me, -though -it involve the bitterness of mine own death. - - -He Who was Thy Spirit (Jesus), -O my God, -withdrew all alone in the -darkness of the night preceding His last day on earth, -and falling on His -face to the ground besought Thee saying: -"If it be Thy will, -O my Lord, -my -Well-Beloved, -let this cup, -through Thy grace and bounty, -pass from me. -" - -By Thy beauty, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Creator of the -heavens! -I can smell the fragrance of the words which, -in His love for -Thee, -His lips have uttered, -and can feel the glow of the fire that had -inflamed His soul in its longing to behold Thy face and in its yearning -after the Day-Spring of the light of Thy oneness, -and the Dawning-Place of -Thy transcendent unity. - - -As to me--and to this Thou art Thyself my witness--I call upon Thee saying: - -"I have no will of mine own, -O my Lord, -and my Master and my Ruler, -before -the indications of Thy will, -and can have no purpose in the face of the -revelation of Thy purpose. -I swear by Thy glory! -I wish only what Thou -wishest, -and cherish only what Thou cherishest. -What I have chosen for -myself is what Thou hast Thyself chosen for me, -O Thou the Possessor of my -soul! -" Nay, -I find myself to be altogether nothing when face to face with -the manifold revelations of Thy names, -how much less when confronted with -the effulgent splendors of the light of Thine own Self. -O miserable me! - -Were I to attempt merely to describe Thee, -such an attempt would itself be -an evidence of my impiety, -and would attest my heedlessness in the face of -the clear and resplendent tokens of Thy oneness. -Who else except Thee can -claim to be worthy of any notice in the face of Thine own revelation, -and -who is he that can be deemed sufficiently qualified to adequately praise -Thee, -or to pride himself on having befittingly described Thy glory? - -Nay--and to this Thou dost Thyself bear witness--it hath incontrovertibly -been made evident that Thou art the one God, -the Incomparable, -Whose help -is implored by all men. -From everlasting Thou wert alone, -with none to -describe Thee, -and wilt abide for ever the same with no one else to equal -or rival Thee. -Were the existence of any co-equal with Thee to be -recognized, -how could it then be maintained that Thou art the -Incomparable, -or that Thy Godhead is immeasurably exalted above all peers -or likeness? -The contemplation of the highest minds that have recognized -Thy unity failed to attain unto the comprehension of the One Thou hast -created through the word of Thy commandment, -how much more must it be -powerless to soar into the atmosphere of the knowledge of Thine own Being. - -Every praise which any tongue or pen can recount, -every imagination which -any heart can devise, -is debarred from the station which Thy most exalted -Pen hath ordained, -how much more must it fall short of the heights which -Thou hast Thyself immensely exalted above the conception and the -description of any creature. -For the attempt of the evanescent to conceive -the signs of the Uncreated is as the stirring of the drop before the -tumult of Thy billowing oceans. -Nay, -forbid it, -O my God, -that I should -thus venture to describe Thee, -for every similitude and comparison must -pertain to what is essentially created by Thee. -How can then such -similitude and comparison ever befit Thee, -or reach up unto Thy Self? - - -By Thy glory, -O my God! -Though I recognize and firmly believe that no -description which any except Thyself can give of Thee can beseem Thy -grandeur, -and that no glory ascribed to Thee by any save Thyself can ever -ascend into the atmosphere of Thy presence, -yet were I to hold my peace, - -and cease to glorify Thee and to recount Thy wondrous glory, -my heart -would be consumed, -and my soul would melt away. - - -My remembrance of Thee, -O my God, -quencheth my thirst, -and quieteth my -heart. -My soul delighteth in its communion with Thee, -as the sucking child -delighteth itself in the breasts of Thy mercy; -and my heart panteth after -Thee even as one sore athirst panteth after the living waters of Thy -bounty, -O Thou Who art the God of mercy, -in Whose hand is the lordship of -all things! - - -I give thanks to Thee, -O my God, -that Thou hast suffered me to remember -Thee. -What else but remembrance of Thee can give delight to my soul or -gladness to my heart? -Communion with Thee enableth me to dispense with the -remembrance of all Thy creatures, -and my love for Thee empowereth me to -endure the harm which my oppressors inflict upon me. - - -Send, -therefore, -unto my loved ones, -O my God, -what will cheer their -hearts, -and illumine their faces, -and delight their souls. -Thou knowest, -O -my Lord, -that their joy is to behold the exaltation of Thy Cause and the -glorification of Thy word. -Do Thou unveil, -therefore, -O my God, -what will -gladden their eyes, -and ordain for them the good of this world and of the -world which is to come. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the God of power, -of strength and of bounty. - - - - - - -Thou seest, -O my God, -how the wrongs committed by such of Thy creatures as -have turned their backs to Thee have come in between Him in Whom Thy -Godhead is manifest and Thy servants. -Send down upon them, -O my Lord, -what -will cause them to be busied with each others' concerns. -Let, -then, -their -violence be confined to their own selves, -that the land and they that -dwell therein may find peace. - - -One of Thy handmaidens, -O my Lord, -hath sought Thy face, -and soared in the -atmosphere of Thy pleasure. -Withhold not from her, -O my Lord, -the things -Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy handmaidens. -Enable her, - -then, -to be so attracted by Thine utterances that she will celebrate Thy -praise amongst them. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -No God is there but Thee, -the -Almighty, -Whose help is implored by all men. - - - - - - - -My God, -my Well-Beloved! -No place is there for any one to flee to when -once Thy laws have been sent down, -and no refuge can be found by any soul -after the revelation of Thy commandments. -Thou hast inspired the Pen with -the mysteries of Thine eternity, -and bidden it teach man that which he -knoweth not, -and caused him to partake of the living waters of truth from -the cup of Thy Revelation and Thine inspiration. - - -No sooner, -however, -had the Pen traced upon the tablet one single letter -of Thy hidden wisdom, -than the voice of the lamentation of Thine ardent -lovers was lifted up from all directions. -Thereupon, -there befell the just -what hath caused the inmates of the tabernacle of Thy glory to weep and -the dwellers of the cities of Thy revelation to groan. - - -Thou dost consider, -O my God, -how He Who is the Manifestation of Thy names -is in these days threatened by the swords of Thine adversaries. -In such a -state He crieth out and summoneth all the inhabitants of Thine earth and -the denizens of Thy heaven unto Thee. - - -Purify, -O my God, -the hearts of Thy creatures with the power of Thy -sovereignty and might, -that Thy words may sink deep into them. -I know not -what is in their hearts, -O my God, -nor can tell the thoughts they think of -Thee. -Methinks that they imagine that Thy purpose in calling them to Thine -all-highest horizon is to heighten the glory of Thy majesty and power. -For -had they been satisfied that Thou summonest them to that which will -recreate their hearts and immortalize their souls, -they would never have -fled from Thy governance, -nor deserted the shadow of the tree of Thy -oneness. -Clear away, -then, -the sight of Thy creatures, -O my God, -that they -may recognize Him Who showeth forth the Godhead as One Who is sanctified -from all that pertaineth unto them, -and Who, -wholly for Thy sake, -is -summoning them to the horizon of Thy unity, -at a time when every moment of -His life is beset with peril. -Had His aim been the preservation of His own -Self, -He would never have left it at the mercy of Thy foes. - - -I swear by Thy glory! -I have accepted to be tried by manifold adversities -for no purpose except to regenerate all that are in Thy heaven and on Thy -earth. -Whoso hath loved Thee, -can never feel attached to his own self, - -except for the purpose of furthering Thy Cause; -and whoso hath recognized -Thee can recognize naught else except Thee, -and can turn to no one save -Thee. - - -Enable Thy servants, -O my God, -to discover the things Thou didst desire -for them in Thy Kingdom. -Acquaint them, -moreover, -with what He Who is the -Origin of Thy most excellent titles hath, -in His love for Thee, -been -willing to bear for the sake of the regeneration of their souls, -that they -may haste to attain the River that is Life indeed, -and turn their faces in -the direction of Thy Name, -the Most Merciful. -Abandon them not to -themselves, -O my God! -Draw them, -by Thy bountiful favor, -to the heaven of -Thine inspiration. -They are but paupers, -and Thou art the All-Possessing, - -the ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - - -Glory to Thee, -O my God! -The first stirrings of the spring of Thy grace -have appeared and clothed Thine earth with verdure. -The clouds of the -heaven of Thy bounty have rained their rain on this City within whose -walls is imprisoned Him Whose desire is the salvation of Thy creatures. - -Through it the soil of this City hath been decked forth, -and its trees -clothed with foliage, -and its inhabitants gladdened. - - -The hearts of Thy dear ones, -however, -will rejoice only at the Divine -Springtime of Thy tender mercies, -whereby the hearts are quickened, -and -the souls are renewed, -and the trees of human existence bear their fruits. - - -The plants that have sprung forth, -O my Lord, -in the hearts of Thy loved -ones have withered away. -Send down upon them, -from the clouds of Thy -spirit, -that which will cause the tender herbs of Thy knowledge and wisdom -to grow within their breasts. -Rejoice, -then, -their hearts with the -proclamation of Thy Cause and the exaltation of Thy sovereignty. - - -Their eyes, -O my Lord, -are expectantly turned in the direction of Thy -bounty, -and their faces are set towards the horizon of Thy grace. -Suffer -them not, -through Thy bounty, -to be deprived of Thy grace. -Potent art -Thou, -by Thy sovereign might, -over all things. -No God is there but Thee, - -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Thou seest, -O my God, -how Thy servants have been cleaving fast to Thy -names, -and have been calling on them in the daytime and in the night -season. -No sooner, -however, -had He been made manifest through Whose word -the kingdom of names and the heaven of eternity were created, -than they -broke away from Him and disbelieved in the greatest of Thy signs. -They -finally banished Him from the land of His birth, -and caused Him to dwell -within the most desolate of Thy cities, -though all the world had been -built up by Thee for His sake. -Within this, -the Most Great Prison, -He hath -established His seat. -Though sore tried by trials, -the like of which the -eye of creation hath not seen, -He summoneth the people unto Thee, -O Thou -Who art the Fashioner of the universe! - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou the Shaper of all the nations and the Quickener of -every moldering bone, -to graciously enable Thy servants to recognize Him -Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self and the Revealer of Thy transcendent -might, -that they may cut down, -by Thy power, -all the idols of their -corrupt inclinations, -and enter beneath the shadow of Thine -all-encompassing mercy, -which, -by virtue of Thy name, -the Most Exalted, - -the All-Glorious, -hath surpassed the entire creation. - - -I know not, -O my God, -how long will Thy creatures continue to slumber on -the bed of forgetfulness and evil desires, -and remain far removed from -Thee and shut out from Thy presence. -Draw them nearer, -O my God, -unto the -scene of Thine effulgent glory, -and enrapture their hearts with the sweet -savors of Thine inspiration, -through which they who adore Thy unity have -soared on the wings of desire towards Thee, -and they who are devoted to -Thee have reached unto Him Who is the Dawning-Place of the Day-Star of Thy -creation. - - -Cleave asunder, -O my Lord, -the veils that shut them out from Thee, -that -they may behold Thee shining above the horizon of Thy oneness and shedding -Thy radiance from the dawning-place of Thy sovereignty. -By Thy glory! -Were -they to discover the sweetness of Thy remembrance and apprehend the -excellence of the things that are sent down upon them from the right hand -of the throne of Thy majesty, -they would cast away all that they possess, - -and would rush forth into the wilderness of their longing after Thee, -that -the glance of Thy loving-kindness may be directed towards them and the -radiance of the Day-Star of Thy beauty may be shed upon them. - - -Let their hearts, -O my Lord, -be carried away by Thy remembrance, -and their -souls enriched by Thy riches, -and their wills strengthened to proclaim Thy -Cause amidst Thy creatures. -Thou art, -verily, -the Great Giver, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -Thou seest how I have been sorely vexed -among Thy servants, -and beholdest the things that have befallen me in Thy -path. -Thou knowest full well that I have not spoken a word but by Thy -leave, -that my lips have never been opened except at Thy bidding and in -accordance with Thy pleasure, -that every breath I have breathed hath been -animated with Thy praise and Thy remembrance, -that I have summoned all men -to naught else except that whereunto Thy chosen ones have through all -eternity been summoned, -and that I have bidden them observe only the -things that would draw them nearer unto the Day-Spring of Thy -loving-kindness, -and the Dawning-Place of Thy favors, -and the Horizon of -Thy riches, -and the Manifestation of Thine inspiration and Thy revelation. - - -Thou art well aware, -O my God, -that I have not failed in my duty towards -Thy Cause. -At all times and under all conditions I have wafted, -in every -direction, -the breezes of Thine inspiration, -and shed abroad the sweet -smell of the raiment of Thy mercy, -that haply Thy servants may discover -its fragrance, -and through it be enabled to turn towards Thee. - - -I implore Thee, -O my God, -by the Lights of Thy unity and the Repositories -of Thy revelation, -to send down from the clouds of Thy mercy that which -will cleanse the hearts of all such as have turned towards Thee. -Blot out, - -then, -from their hearts all that may induce Thy servants to cavil at Thy -Cause. - - -Thy will hath overruled my will, -O my God, -and I have shown forth what -hath grievously vexed me. -Have mercy, -then, -upon me, -O Thou Who of all -those who show mercy art the Most Merciful! - - -Assist Thou Thy servants, -O my God, -to help Thy Cause, -and give them to -drink what will quicken their hearts in Thy realm, -lest anything hinder -them from remembering Thee and from extolling Thy virtues, -that they may -quit their homes in Thy name, -and summon all the multitudes unto Thee. - -Guard their faces, -O my God, -from turning to any one save Thee, -and their -ears from hearkening unto the sayings of all such as have turned away from -Thy beauty and repudiated Thy signs. - - -Supreme art Thou over all things. -There is none other God save Thee, -the -All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou beholdest my low estate and the -habitation wherein I dwell, -and bearest witness unto my perplexity, -my -crying needs, -my troubles, -and the afflictions I suffer among Thy servants -who recite Thy verses and repudiate their Revealer, -who call on Thy names -and cavil at their Creator, -who seek to draw nigh unto Him Who is Thy -Friend and put to death Him Who is the Best-Beloved of the worlds. - - -Open Thou their eyes, -O my God, -and My Master, -that they may gaze on Thy -beauty, -or cause them to return unto the lowest abyss of the fire. -Potent -art Thou to do what Thou willest. -Thou art, -verily, -the All-Glorious, -the -All-Wise. - - -The glory of Thy might, -O my God, -beareth me witness! -Every time I attempt -to remember Thee, -I find myself overpowered by the sublimity of Thy -station and the immensity of Thy might; -and every time I hold my peace, - -lo, -I am impelled by my love for Thee and by the potency of Thy will, -to -unloose my tongue and mention Thee. -He who is poor and needy, -O my God, -is -calling for his Lord, -the All-Possessing; -and he who is destitute of all -strength remembereth his Master, -the All-Powerful. -If He deign to accept -His servant's supplication, -He is, -verily, -of unsurpassed bounteousness; - -and if He cast him out, -He is of those who judge equitably the best. -He -indeed is acceptable, -O my God, -who hath set his face towards Thee, -and he -is truly deprived who hath been careless of the remembrance of Thee in Thy -days. -Blessed is he that hath tasted of the sweetness of Thy remembrance -and praise. -Nothing, -not even the arising of all the peoples of the whole -world to assail him, -can hinder such a man from directing his steps -towards the paths of Thy pleasure and the ways of Thy Cause. - - -Look, -then, -O Thou Who art the Well-Beloved of Bahá, -upon the tears he -sheddeth before Thee, -and behold the sighs which he uttereth, -O Thou Who -art his heart's Desire! -I swear by Thy might, -and Thy majesty and Thy -glory! -Were I to inherit from Thee all the delights of Paradise, -and to -keep them in my possession as long as Thine own Being endureth, -and were I -to become, -for less than a moment, -careless of the remembrance of Thee, -I -would, -of a certainty, -cast them away from me and cease to consider them. - -I am the one, -O my God, -who for love of Thee hath forsaken the world and -all its benefits, -and willingly accepted every tribulation for the sake of -Thy remembrance. - - -I entreat Thee, -O Thou Who art my Companion and my Best-Beloved, -to lift -the veil that hath come in between Thee and Thy servants, -that they may -recognize Thee with Thine own eye and rid themselves of all attachment to -any one but Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the -Most Compassionate. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Most Exalted, -the -Self-Sufficing, -the Self-Exalting, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Wise. - - -Praise be unto Thee, -for Thou art, -in truth, -the Lord of earth and heaven. - - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I am the one who hath sought the good -pleasure of Thy will, -and directed his steps towards the seat of Thy -gracious favors. -I am he who hath forsaken his all, -who hath fled to Thee -for shelter, -who hath set his face towards the tabernacle of Thy -revelation and the adored sanctuary of Thy glory. -I beseech Thee, -O my -Lord, -by Thy call whereby they who recognized Thy unity have sought the -shadow of Thy most gracious providence, -and the sincere have fled far from -themselves unto Thy name, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -through -which Thy verses were sent down, -and Thy word fulfilled, -and Thy proof -manifested, -and the sun of Thy beauty risen, -and Thy testimony -established, -and Thy signs uncovered, ---I beseech Thee to grant that I may -be numbered with them that have quaffed the wine that is life indeed from -the hands of Thy gracious providence, -and have rid themselves, -in Thy -path, -of all attachment to Thy creatures, -and been so inebriated with Thy -manifold wisdom that they hastened to the field of sacrifice with Thy -praise on their lips and Thy remembrance in their hearts. -Send down, -also, - -upon me, -O my God, -that which will wash me from anything that is not of -Thee, -and deliver me from Thine enemies who have disbelieved in Thy signs. - - -Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest. -No God is there beside Thee, -the -Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest and knowest that I have -called upon Thy servants to turn nowhere except in the direction of Thy -bestowals, -and have bidden them observe naught save the things Thou didst -prescribe in Thy Perspicuous Book, -the Book which hath been sent down -according to Thine inscrutable decree and irrevocable purpose. - - -I can utter no word, -O my God, -unless I be permitted by Thee, -and can move -in no direction until I obtain Thy sanction. -It is Thou, -O my God, -Who -hast called me into being through the power of Thy might, -and hast endued -me with Thy grace to manifest Thy Cause. -Wherefore I have been subjected -to such adversities that my tongue hath been hindered from extolling Thee -and from magnifying Thy glory. - - -All praise be to Thee, -O my God, -for the things Thou didst ordain for me -through Thy decree and by the power of Thy sovereignty. -I beseech Thee -that Thou wilt fortify both myself and them that love me in our love for -Thee, -and wilt keep us firm in Thy Cause. -I swear by Thy might! -O my God! - -Thy servant's shame is to be shut out as by a veil from Thee, -and his -glory is to know Thee. -Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever -hurt me, -and with Thy love in my heart all the world's afflictions can in -no wise alarm me. - - -Send down, -therefore, -O my Lord, -upon me and upon my loved ones that which -will protect us from the mischief of those that have repudiated Thy truth -and disbelieved in Thy signs. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the All-Glorious, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou hast, -in Thine all highest -Paradise, -assigned unto Thy servants such stations that if any one of them -were to be unveiled to men's eyes all who are in heaven and all who are on -earth would be dumbfounded. -By Thy might! -Were kings to witness so great a -glory they would, -assuredly, -rid themselves of their dominions and cleave -to such of their subjects as have entered beneath the shadow of Thine -immeasurable mercy and sought the shelter of Thine all-glorious name. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of the worlds and the Desire of -all that have recognized Thee, -by Thy name, -through which Thou stirrest up -whom Thou willest and drawest toward Thee whom Thou pleasest, -to open the -eyes of all that are dear to Thee, -that haply they may not be veiled from -Thee as the peoples of the earth are, -but may outwardly perceive the signs -and tokens of Thy power, -and inwardly apprehend the things Thou didst -ordain for them in the realms of Thy glory. - - -Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -Thou art the one alone Beloved in both -this world and in the next. -No God is there but Thee, -the Most Exalted, - -the All-Glorious. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Every time I venture to make mention of -Thee, -I am held back by my mighty sins and grievous trespasses against -Thee, -and find myself wholly deprived of Thy grace, -and utterly powerless -to celebrate Thy praise. -My great confidence in Thy bounty, -however, - -reviveth my hope in Thee, -and my certitude that Thou wilt bountifully deal -with me emboldeneth me to extol Thee, -and to ask of Thee the things Thou -dost possess. - - -I implore Thee, -O my God, -by Thy mercy that hath surpassed all created -things, -and to which all that are immersed beneath the oceans of Thy names -bear witness, -not to abandon me unto my self, -for my heart is prone to -evil. -Guard me, -then, -within the stronghold of Thy protection and the -shelter of Thy care. -I am he, -O my God, -whose only wish is what Thou hast -determined by the power of Thy might. -All I have chosen for myself is to -be assisted by Thy gracious appointments and the ruling of Thy will, -and -to be aided with the tokens of Thy decree and judgment. - - -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of the hearts which long for -Thee, -by the Manifestations of Thy Cause and the Day-Springs of Thine -inspiration, -and the Exponents of Thy majesty, -and the Treasuries of Thy -knowledge, -not to suffer me to be deprived of Thy holy Habitation, -Thy -Fane and Thy Tabernacle. -Aid me, -O my Lord, -to attain His hallowed court, - -and to circle round His person, -and to stand humbly at His door. - - -Thou art He Whose power is from everlasting to everlasting. -Nothing -escapeth Thy knowledge. -Thou art, -verily, -the God of power, -the God of -glory and wisdom. - - -Praised be God, -the Lord of the worlds! - - - - - - - - -O Thou the dread of Whom hath fallen upon all things, -before the splendors -of Whose face the countenances of all men are downcast, -at the revelations -of Whose sovereignty all necks have humbly bowed, -to the ruling of Whose -will all hearts have been subdued, -the awfulness of Whose majesty hath -caused the foundations of all things to tremble, -and to the power of Whose -authority the winds have been subjected! -I beseech Thee by the compelling -force of Thy Revelation, -and by the power of Thy might, -and by the -exaltation of Thy word, -and by the sublimity of Thy sovereignty, -to number -us with them whom the world hath been powerless to hinder from turning -towards Thee. - - -Cause me, -O my Lord, -to be of those who, -with their substance and their -own selves, -have fought valiantly in Thy path. -Write down, -then, -for me -the recompense Thou didst ordain for them in the Tablet of Thy decree. - -Stablish me also on the seat of truth in Thy presence, -and join me with -the sincere among Thy servants. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy Messengers, -and Thy Chosen Ones, -and by -Him through Whom Thou hast affixed Thy seal upon the Manifestations of Thy -Cause among Thy creatures, -and Whom Thou hast adorned with the ornament of -Thine acceptance among all that dwell in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, -to -graciously assist me to attain unto what Thou hast ordained for Thy -servants and bidden them observe in Thy Tablets. -Wash away, -then, -my sins, - -O my God, -by Thy grace and bounty, -and reckon me among such as are not -overtaken by fear nor put to grief. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Thou art He the fire of Whose love hath -set ablaze the hearts of them who have recognized Thy unity, -and the -splendors of Whose countenance have illuminated the faces of such as have -drawn nigh unto Thy court. -How plenteous, -O my God, -is the stream of Thy -knowledge! -How sweet, -O my Beloved, -is the injury which, -in my love for -Thee, -and for the sake of Thy pleasure, -I suffer from the darts of the -wicked doers! -How pleasing are the wounds which, -in Thy path and in order -to proclaim Thy Faith, -I sustain from the swords of the infidels! - - -I beseech Thee, -by Thy name through which Thou turnest restlessness into -tranquillity, -fear into confidence, -weakness into strength, -and abasement -into glory, -that Thou of Thy grace wilt aid me and Thy servants to exalt -Thy name, -to deliver Thy Message, -and to proclaim Thy Cause, -in such wise -that we may remain unmoved by either the assaults of the transgressors or -the wrath of the infidels, -O Thou Who art my Well-Beloved! - - -I am, -O my Lord, -Thy handmaiden, -who hath hearkened to Thy call, -and -hastened unto Thee, -fleeing from herself and resting her heart upon Thee. - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy name out of which all the treasures of -the earth were brought forth, -to shield me from the hints of such as have -disbelieved in Thee and repudiated Thy truth. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou pleasest. -Thou art, -verily, -the -All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -All praise be to Thee, -O Lord, -my God! -How mysterious the Fire which Thou -hast enkindled within my heart! -My very limbs testify to the intensity of -its heat, -and evince the consuming power of its flame. -Should my bodily -tongue ever attempt to describe Thee as the One Whose strength hath ever -excelled the strength of the most mighty amongst men, -the tongue of my -heart would address me, -saying: -"These are but words which can only be -adequate to such things as are of the same likeness and nature as -themselves. -But He, -of a truth, -is infinitely exalted above the mention of -all His creatures. -" - -The power of Thy might beareth me witness, -O my Well-Beloved! -Every limb -of my body, -methinks, -is endowed with a tongue that glorifieth Thee and -magnifieth Thy name. -Armed with the power of Thy love, -the hatred which -moveth them that are against Thee can never alarm me; -and with Thy praise -on my lips, -the rulings of Thy decree can in no wise fill me with sorrow. - -Fortify, -therefore, -Thy love within my breast, -and suffer me to face the -assaults which all the peoples of the earth may launch against me. -I swear -by Thee! -Every hair of my head proclaimeth: -"But for the adversities that -befall me in Thy path, -how could I ever taste the divine sweetness of Thy -tenderness and love? -" - -Send down, -therefore, -O my Lord, -upon me and upon them that love me, -that -which will cause us to become steadfast in Thy Faith. -Enable them, -then, - -to become the Hands of Thy Cause amongst Thy servants, -that they may -scatter abroad Thy signs, -and show forth Thy sovereignty. -There is no God -but Thee, -Who art powerful to do whatsoever Thou willest. -Thou art, -in -truth, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Praised. - - - - - - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O my God! -I am one of Thy servants, -who hath believed -on Thee and on Thy signs. -Thou seest how I have set myself towards the -door of Thy mercy, -and turned my face in the direction of Thy -loving-kindness. -I beseech Thee, -by Thy most excellent titles and Thy most -exalted attributes, -to open to my face the portals of Thy bestowals. -Aid -me, -then, -to do that which is good, -O Thou Who art the Possessor of all -names and attributes! - - -I am poor, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the Rich. -I have set my face towards -Thee, -and detached myself from all but Thee. -Deprive me not, -I implore -Thee, -of the breezes of Thy tender mercy, -and withhold not from me what -Thou didst ordain for the chosen among Thy servants. - - -Remove the veil from mine eyes, -O my Lord, -that I may recognize what Thou -hast desired for Thy creatures, -and discover, -in all the manifestations of -Thy handiwork, -the revelations of Thine almighty power. -Enrapture my soul, - -O my Lord, -with Thy most mighty signs, -and draw me out of the depths of my -corrupt and evil desires. -Write down, -then, -for me the good of this world -and of the world to come. -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -No God -is there but Thee, -the All-Glorious, -Whose help is sought by all men. - - -I yield Thee thanks, -O my Lord, -that Thou hast wakened me from my sleep, - -and stirred me up, -and created in me the desire to perceive what most of -Thy servants have failed to apprehend. -Make me able, -therefore, -O my Lord, - -to behold, -for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy pleasure, -whatsoever -Thou hast desired. -Thou art He to the power of Whose might and sovereignty -all things testify. - - -There is none other God but Thee, -the Almighty, -the Beneficent. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -Thou seest how Thy righteous servants have -fallen into the hands of the wicked doers, -who have disbelieved in Thy -name, -the Unconstrained, -and denied Thy majesty, -and Thine unrestrained -authority, -and Thy strength, -and Thy sovereign might. -Their mouths utter -what the mouths of the Jews uttered aforetime. - - -Put forth, -therefore, -out of the bosom of Thy glory, -O my Lord, -the hand -of Thine omnipotence, -and through it assist Thou Thy loved ones who, - -though sore-tried in Thy path with such trials as have caused the inmates -of the kingdom of Thy Cause to groan, -were not deterred from turning -towards the horizon of Thy Revelation. - - -Set, -then, -the seal of Thine unerring protection on their hearts, -O my -Lord, -lest perchance the remembrance of aught else except Thee enter -therein. -Make them able, -moreover, -to proclaim Thy name amidst Thy -creatures, -and supply them with the best of what Thou hast destined for -such of Thy chosen ones as enjoy near access to Thee. - - -Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -Thou truly art the All-Glorious, -to -whom all cry for help. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest how Thy servants have -everywhere been compassed with tribulations, -how their adversaries have -all risen up against them and grievously wronged them. -Thy glory beareth -me witness! -Were all the wicked doers of the earth to band themselves -against us, -and to cast us into a fire such as no man hath kindled, -they -would be powerless to distract our gaze from the horizon of Thy name, -the -Most Exalted, -the Most High, -and would fail to turn aside our hearts from -the seat of Thine effulgent glory. - - -I swear by Thy might! -The arrows that transfix us in Thy path are the -ornaments of our temples, -and the spears which pierce us in our love for -Thee are as silk unto our bodies. -By the glory of Thy might! -Nothing -whatsoever can beseem Thy servants except what the pen of Thine -irrevocable decree hath traced in this priceless and exalted Tablet. - - -All praise be to Thy Self at all times and under all conditions. -Thou art, - -verily, -the God of knowledge and wisdom. - - - - - - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O my God! -Thou seest how He Who is Thy Light hath -been shut up in the fortress-town of Akká, -and been sore oppressed by -reason of what the hands of the wicked doers have wrought, -whose corrupt -desires have kept them back from turning towards Thee, -O Thou Who art the -King of all names! - - -I swear by Thy glory! -Tribulations, -however woeful, -can never hinder me -from remembering Thee or from celebrating Thy praise. -Every vexation borne -for love of Thee is a token of Thy mercy unto Thy creatures, -and every -ordeal suffered in Thy path is but a gift from Thee bestowed on Thy chosen -ones. -I testify that my countenance, -which shineth above the Day-Spring of -eternity, -hath been irradiated by adversity, -and my body hath been adorned -by it before all who are in heaven and all who are on earth. - - -I pray Thee, -by Thy Most Great Name, -to aid all them that have believed on -Thee and on Thy signs to be steadfast in Thy love and to set themselves -towards the Dawning-Place of the Day-Star of Thy loving-kindness. -Inspire -them, -then, -O my God, -with what will unloose their tongue to praise Thee, - -and will draw them nigh unto Thee in the life that now is and the life -that is to come. - - -Thou truly art the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Beneficent. - - - - - - - -Glorified be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -I beseech Thee by Thy power that -hath encompassed all created things, -and by Thy sovereignty that hath -transcended the entire creation, -and by Thy Word which was hidden in Thy -wisdom and whereby Thou didst create Thy heaven and Thy earth, -both to -enable us to be steadfast in our love for Thee and in our obedience to Thy -pleasure, -and to fix our gaze upon Thy face, -and celebrate Thy glory. - -Empower us, -then, -O my God, -to spread abroad Thy signs among Thy -creatures, -and to guard Thy Faith in Thy realm. -Thou hast ever existed -independently of the mention of any of Thy creatures, -and wilt remain as -Thou hast been for ever and ever. - - -In Thee I have placed my whole confidence, -unto Thee I have turned my -face, -to the cord of Thy loving providence I have clung, -and towards the -shadow of Thy mercy I have hastened. -Cast me not as one disappointed out -of Thy door, -O my God, -and withhold not from me Thy grace, -for Thee alone -do I seek. -No God is there beside Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Bountiful. - - -Praise be to Thee, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of them that have known -Thee! - - - - - - -O Thou Whose tests are a healing medicine to such as are nigh unto Thee, - -Whose sword is the ardent desire of all them that love Thee, -Whose dart is -the dearest wish of those hearts that yearn after Thee, -Whose decree is -the sole hope of them that have recognized Thy truth! -I implore Thee, -by -Thy divine sweetness and by the splendors of the glory of Thy face, -to -send down upon us from Thy retreats on high that which will enable us to -draw nigh unto Thee. -Set, -then, -our feet firm, -O my God, -in Thy Cause, -and -enlighten our hearts with the effulgence of Thy knowledge, -and illumine -our breasts with the brightness of Thy names. - - - - - - - -I am he, -O my Lord, -that hath set his face towards Thee, -and fixed his -hope on the wonders of Thy grace and the revelations of Thy bounty. -I pray -Thee that Thou wilt not suffer me to turn away disappointed from the door -of Thy mercy, -nor abandon me to such of Thy creatures as have repudiated -Thy Cause. - - -I am, -O my God, -Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. -I have recognized -Thy truth in Thy days, -and have directed my steps towards the shores of -Thy oneness, -confessing Thy singleness, -acknowledging Thy unity, -and -hoping for Thy forgiveness and pardon. -Powerful art Thou to do what Thou -willest; -no God is there beside Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the -Ever-Forgiving. - - - - - - - - -Unto Thee be praise, -O Lord my God! -I testify that Thou art God, -and that -there is none other God besides Thee. -Thou hast from eternity been -immeasurably exalted above the praise of any one except Thee, -and far -above the description of any of Thy creatures. -All created things have -borne witness to Thy unity, -and every dweller in Thy kingdom hath -confessed Thy oneness. -The essence of the apprehension of the assured -among Thy creatures can never attain unto Thee, -and the gem-like -utterances with which Thy people have praised and glorified Thee can never -hope to ascend unto the atmosphere of Thy holiness. -For men's apprehension -of Thee is but the apprehension of Thine own creation; -how can it reach up -to Thee? -And all human praise and glorification of Thee pertain unto Thy -servants; -how can they be deemed worthy of the court of Thy oneness? - - -I swear by Thy glory! -The quintessence of knowledge is powerless to -comprehend Thy nature, -and the inmost reality of every praise of Thee -falleth short of the seat of Thy great glory and of Thine all-compelling -power. -Every utterance that seeketh to describe Thee, -and every knowledge -that attempteth to comprehend Thee, -is but an expression of Thine own -creating, -and is begotten by Thy will, -and fashioned in conformity with -Thy purpose. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art inscrutable to all except Thee, -and can be -comprehended through naught else save Thyself, -by the wrongs which He Who -is the Day-Spring of Thy Cause hath suffered at the hands of the ignoble -among Thy creatures, -and by what hath befallen Him in Thy path, -to grant -that I may, -at all times, -be wholly dissolved in Thee, -and fix my gaze -upon the horizon of Thy will and be steadfast in Thy love. - - -I have, -O my Lord, -turned unto Thee according to what Thou hast commanded -me in Thy Book, -and have set my face towards the horizon of Thy -loving-kindness even as Thou hast permitted me in Thy Tablets. -Cast me not -out of the door of Thy grace, -I beseech Thee, -and write down for me the -recompense destined for him who hath entered Thy presence, -and hath risen -to serve Thee, -and hath been carried away by the drops sprinkled upon him -from the Ocean of Thy favors in Thy days, -and by the splendors of the -Day-Star of Thy gifts that have been shed upon him at the revelation of -the light of Thy countenance. - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -No God is there save Thee, -the -Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy Name, -O Lord my God! -I am Thy servant who hath laid hold on -the cord of Thy tender mercies, -and clung to the hem of Thy bounteousness. - -I entreat Thee by Thy name whereby Thou hast subjected all created things, - -both visible and invisible, -and through which the breath that is life -indeed was wafted over the entire creation, -to strengthen me by Thy power -which hath encompassed the heavens and the earth, -and to guard me from all -sickness and tribulation. -I bear witness that Thou art the Lord of all -names, -and the Ordainer of all that may please Thee. -There is none other -God but Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - -Do Thou ordain for me, -O my Lord, -what will profit me in every world of -Thy worlds. -Supply me, -then, -with what Thou hast written down for the -chosen ones among Thy creatures, -whom neither the blame of the blamer, -nor -the clamor of the infidel, -nor the estrangement of such as have withdrawn -from Thee, -hath deterred from turning towards Thee. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the Help in Peril through the power of Thy sovereignty. - -No God is there save Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O my God! -I yield Thee thanks that Thou hast made -known unto me Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy mercy, -and the -Dawning-Place of Thy grace, -and the Repository of Thy Cause. -I beseech -Thee by Thy Name, -through which the faces of them that are nigh unto Thee -have turned white, -and the hearts of such as are devoted to Thee have -winged their flight towards Thee, -to grant that I may, -at all times and -under all conditions, -lay hold on Thy cord, -and be rid of all attachment -to any one except Thee, -and may keep mine eyes directed towards the -horizon of Thy Revelation, -and may carry out what Thou hast prescribed -unto me in Thy Tablets. - - -Attire, -O my Lord, -both my inner and outer being with the raiment of Thy -favors and Thy loving-kindness. -Keep me safe, -then, -from whatsoever may be -abhorrent unto Thee, -and graciously assist me and my kindred to obey Thee, - -and to shun whatsoever may stir up any evil or corrupt desire within me. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the Lord of all mankind, -and the Possessor of this world -and of the next. -No God is there save Thee, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -O God, -and the God of all Names, -and Maker of the heavens! -I entreat Thee -by Thy Name through which He Who is the Day-Spring of Thy might and the -Dawning-Place of Thy power hath been manifested, -through which every solid -thing hath been made to flow, -and every dead corpse hath been quickened, - -and every moving spirit confirmed--I entreat Thee to enable me to rid -myself of all attachment to any one but Thee, -and to serve Thy Cause, -and -to wish what Thou didst wish through the power of Thy sovereignty, -and to -perform what is the good pleasure of Thy will. - - -I beseech Thee, -moreover, -O my God, -to ordain for me what will make me -rich enough to dispense with any one save Thee. -Thou seest me, -O my God, - -with my face turned towards Thee, -and my hands clinging to the cord of Thy -grace. -Send down upon me Thy mercy, -and write down for me what Thou hast -written down for Thy chosen ones. -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth -Thee. -No God is there but Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the All-Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O Thou Who hast, -through the movement of Thy most august -pen, -subdued the concourse of Thy creation, -and manifested the pearls of -the ocean of Thy wisdom through the words which Thy tongue hath spoken -before all who are in heaven and on earth. -I testify that Thy might hath -encompassed the whole universe, -and Thy mercy surpassed all created -things. -The powers of the earth have never prevailed against Thee, -nor -hath the tumult of the nations frustrated Thy purpose. -Thou hast revealed -in Thy realm whatsoever Thou hadst desired through the power of Thy -sovereignty, -and hast ordained all things according to the good pleasure -of Thy will. -From eternity Thou hast inhabited the loftiest heights of Thy -dominion and of Thine unfettered sovereignty, -and wilt unto eternity -continue to abide in the inaccessible retreats of Thy majesty and glory. - - -I implore Thee, -by Thy Name through which the fragrance of the raiment of -Thy presence was wafted, -and the gentle winds of Thy bountiful grace -passed over all created things, -to graciously assist me, -at all times and -under all conditions, -to serve Thy Cause, -and to enable me to remember -Thee and to extol Thy virtues. -Let, -then, -Thine almighty arms enfold me, -O -my God, -and ordain for me what beseemeth Thy bounty in every world of Thy -worlds. - - -Thou beholdest, -O my Lord, -how I have set myself towards the ocean of Thy -grace and the adored sanctuary of Thy favors. -Deny me not, -I pray Thee, - -the drops which are sprinkled from the ocean of Thy gifts; -neither do Thou -withhold from me the outpourings of the clouds of Thy tender mercies. -I am -he, -O my God, -that hath clung to the resplendent hem of Thy robe, -and -taken hold on Thy strong cord that none can sever. -I testify that Thou -hast created me, -and nourished me, -and brought me up, -and fed me, -and -sustained me, -that I may recognize Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs, - -and the Revealer of Thy clear tokens. -I offer unto Thee, -therefore, -most -high praise, -O Lord my God, -that Thou hast suffered me to attain unto this -most sublime station and this most august seat. -Thou, -truly, -art the Great -Giver, -the Almighty, -the All-Bountiful, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Generous. - - -Illumine mine eyes, -O my Lord, -with the splendors of the horizon of Thy -Revelation, -and brighten my heart with the effulgence of the Day-Star of -Thy knowledge and wisdom, -that I may set myself wholly towards Thy face, - -and be rid of all attachment to any one except Thee, -in such wise that the -changes and chances of the world will be powerless to hinder me from -recognizing Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine own Self, -and the -Revealer of Thy signs, -and the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, -and the -Repository of Thy Cause. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Protector, -the All-Glorious, -the -All-Wise. - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O my God! -This servant of Thine testifieth that naught -else except Thee can ever express Thee, -nor canst Thou be described by any -one save Thyself. -The thoughts of them that have recognized Thy reality, - -however much they may ascend towards the heaven of Thy praise, -can never -hope to pass beyond the bounds which, -by Thy behest and decree, -have been -fixed within their own hearts. -How can the creature who is as nothing -comprehend Him Who is the Ancient of Days, -or succeed in describing the -full measure of His sovereignty, -His glory, -and His grandeur? -Nay, -and to -this Thou Thyself dost witness, -O Thou Who art the Governor of nations! - -Every created thing hath recognized its own impotence, -and the power of -Thy might, -and hath confessed its own abasement and Thy great glory. - - -I beseech Thee by Thy Lastness which is the same as Thy Firstness, -and by -Thy Revelation which is identical with Thy Concealment, -to grant that they -who are dear to Thee, -and their children, -and their kindred, -may become -the revealers of Thy purity amidst Thy creatures, -and the manifestations -of Thy sanctity amongst Thy servants. - - -Thou art, -verily, -powerful to do Thy pleasure. -Thou art, -in truth, -the -Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - -I give Thee thanks, -O my God, -for that Thou hast made me to be a target -for the darts of Thine adversaries in Thy path. -I offer Thee most high -praise, -O Thou Who art the Knower of the seen and unseen and the Lord of -all being, -that Thou hast suffered me to be cast into prison for love of -Thee, -and caused me to quaff the cup of woe, -that I may reveal Thy Cause -and glorify Thy word. - - -Which of my tribulations am I to recount before Thy face, -O my Lord? -Am I -to recite before Thee what in days of old befell me at the hands of the -workers of iniquity among Thy creatures, -or to describe the vexations -which have compassed me about in these days for the sake of Thy good -pleasure? - - -Thanks be to Thee, -O Thou the Lord of all names; -and glory be to Thee, -O -Maker of the heavens, -for all that I have sustained in these days at the -hands of such of Thy servants as have transgressed against Thee, -and of -Thy people that have dealt frowardly towards Thee. - - -Number us, -we implore Thee, -with them who have stood fast in Thy Cause -until their souls finally winged their flight unto the heaven of Thy grace -and the atmosphere of Thy loving-kindness. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O my God! -My face hath been set towards Thy face, -and my -face is, -verily, -Thy face, -and my call is Thy call, -and my Revelation Thy -Revelation, -and my self Thy Self, -and my Cause Thy Cause, -and my behest -Thy behest, -and my Being Thy Being, -and my sovereignty Thy sovereignty, - -and my glory Thy glory, -and my power Thy power. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Fashioner of the nations and the King of eternity, - -to guard Thy handmaidens within the tabernacle of Thy chastity, -and to -cancel such of their deeds as are unworthy of Thy days. -Purge out, -then, - -from them, -O my God, -all doubts and idle fancies, -and sanctify them from -whatsoever becometh not their kinship with Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord -of names, -and the Source of utterance. -Thou art He in Whose grasp are the -reins of the entire creation. - - -No God is there but Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the -All-Glorious, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - -" - - -Glory be to Thee, -O my God! -I beg of Thee by Thy name, -the Most Merciful, - -to protect Thy servants and Thy handmaidens when the tempests of trials -pass over them, -and Thy manifold tests assail them. -Enable them, -then, -O -my God, -so to seek refuge within the stronghold of Thy love and of Thy -Revelation, -that neither Thine adversaries nor the wicked doers among Thy -servants, -who have broken Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, -and turned away -most disdainfully from the Day-Spring of Thine Essence and the Revealer of -Thy glory, -may prevail against them. - - -They themselves, -O my Lord, -have waited at the door of Thy grace. -Do Thou -open it to their faces with the keys of Thy bountiful favors. -Potent art -Thou to do what Thou willest, -and to ordain what Thou pleasest. -These are -the ones, -O my Lord, -who have set their faces towards Thee, -and turned -unto Thy habitation. -Do with them, -therefore, -as becometh Thy mercy, -which -hath surpassed the worlds. - - - - - - - -O my God and my Master! -I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. -I -have risen from my couch at this dawn-tide when the Day-Star of Thy -oneness hath shone forth from the Day-Spring of Thy will, -and hath shed -its radiance upon the whole world, -according to what had been ordained in -the Books of Thy Decree. - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O my God, -that we have wakened to the splendors of -the light of Thy knowledge. -Send down, -then, -upon us, -O my Lord, -what will -enable us to dispense with any one but Thee, -and will rid us of all -attachment to aught except Thyself. -Write down, -moreover, -for me, -and for -such as are dear to me, -and for my kindred, -man and woman alike, -the good -of this world and the world to come. -Keep us safe, -then, -through Thine -unfailing protection, -O Thou the Beloved of the entire creation and the -Desire of the whole universe, -from them whom Thou hast made to be the -manifestations of the Evil Whisperer, -who whisper in men's breasts. -Potent -art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Help in -Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - -Bless Thou, -O Lord my God, -Him Whom Thou hast set over Thy most excellent -Titles, -and through Whom Thou hast divided between the godly and the -wicked, -and graciously aid us to do what Thou lovest and desirest. -Bless -Thou, -moreover, -O my God, -them Who are Thy Words and Thy Letters, -and them -who have set their faces towards Thee, -and turned unto Thy face, -and -hearkened to Thy Call. - - -Thou art, -truly, -the Lord and King of all men, -and art potent over all -things. - - - - - - - -O God, -my God! -Be Thou not far from me, -for tribulation upon tribulation -hath gathered about me. -O God, -my God! -Leave me not to myself, -for the -extreme of adversity hath come upon me. -Out of the pure milk, -drawn from -the breasts of Thy loving-kindness, -give me to drink, -for my thirst hath -utterly consumed me. -Beneath the shadow of the wings of Thy mercy shelter -me, -for all mine adversaries with one consent have fallen upon me. -Keep me -near to the throne of Thy majesty, -face to face with the revelation of the -signs of Thy glory, -for wretchedness hath grievously touched me. -With the -fruits of the Tree of Thine Eternity nourish me, -for uttermost weakness -hath overtaken me. -From the cups of joy, -proffered by the hands of Thy -tender mercies, -feed me, -for manifold sorrows have laid mighty hold upon -me. -With the broidered robe of Thine omnipotent sovereignty attire me, -for -poverty hath altogether despoiled me. -Lulled by the cooing of the Dove of -Thine Eternity, -suffer me to sleep, -for woes at their blackest have -befallen me. -Before the throne of Thy oneness, -amid the blaze of the -beauty of Thy countenance, -cause me to abide, -for fear and trembling have -violently crushed me. -Beneath the ocean of Thy forgiveness, -faced with the -restlessness of the leviathan of glory, -immerse me, -for my sins have -utterly doomed me. - - - - - - -CXLVI: -"GLORY BE TO THEE, -O LORD MY GOD! -I BEG OF THEE. -. -. -" - - -Glory be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I beg of Thee by Thy Name through which -He Who is Thy Beauty hath been stablished upon the throne of Thy Cause, - -and by Thy Name through which Thou changest all things, -and gatherest -together all things, -and callest to account all things, -and rewardest all -things, -and preservest all things, -and sustainest all things--I beg of Thee -to guard this handmaiden who hath fled for refuge to Thee, -and hath sought -the shelter of Him in Whom Thou Thyself art manifest, -and hath put her -whole trust and confidence in Thee. - - -She is sick, -O my God, -and hath entered beneath the shadow of the Tree of -Thy healing; -afflicted, -and hath fled to the City of Thy protection; - -diseased, -and hath sought the Fountain-Head of Thy favors; -sorely vexed, - -and hath hasted to attain the Well-Spring of Thy tranquillity; -burdened -with sin, -and hath set her face toward the court of Thy forgiveness. - - -Attire her, -by Thy sovereignty and Thy loving-kindness, -O my God and my -Beloved, -with the raiment of Thy balm and Thy healing, -and make her quaff -of the cup of Thy mercy and Thy favors. -Protect her, -moreover, -from every -affliction and ailment, -from all pain and sickness, -and from whatsoever -may be abhorrent unto Thee. - - -Thou, -in truth, -art immensely exalted above all else except Thyself. -Thou -art, -verily, -the Healer, -the All-Sufficing, -the Preserver, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - - -Thou art He, -O my God, -through Whose names the sick are healed and the -ailing are restored, -and the thirsty are given drink, -and the sore-vexed -are tranquillized, -and the wayward are guided, -and the abased are exalted, - -and the poor are enriched, -and the ignorant are enlightened, -and the -gloomy are illumined, -and the sorrowful are cheered, -and the chilled are -warmed, -and the downtrodden are raised up. -Through Thy name, -O my God, -all -created things were stirred up, -and the heavens were spread, -and the earth -was established, -and the clouds were raised and made to rain upon the -earth. -This, -verily, -is a token of Thy grace unto all Thy creatures. - - -I implore Thee, -therefore, -by Thy name through which Thou didst manifest -Thy Godhead, -and didst exalt Thy Cause above all creation, -and by each of -Thy most excellent titles and most august attributes, -and by all the -virtues wherewith Thy transcendent and most exalted Being is extolled, -to -send down this night from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy healing -upon this suckling, -whom Thou hast related unto Thine all-glorious Self in -the kingdom of Thy creation. -Clothe him, -then, -O my God, -by Thy grace, - -with the robe of well-being and health, -and guard him, -O my Beloved, -from -every affliction and disorder, -and from whatever is obnoxious unto Thee. - -Thy might, -verily, -is equal to all things. -Thou, -in truth, -art the Most -Powerful, -the Self-Subsisting. -Send down, -moreover, -upon him, -O my God, - -the good of this world and of the next, -and the good of the former and -latter generations. -Thy might and Thy wisdom are, -verily, -equal unto this. - - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -I implore Thee by Thy Name, -through which -Thou didst lift up the ensigns of Thy guidance, -and didst shed the -radiance of Thy loving-kindness, -and didst reveal the sovereignty of Thy -Lordship; -through which the lamp of Thy names hath appeared within the -niche of Thine attributes, -and He Who is the Tabernacle of Thy unity and -the Manifestation of detachment hath shone forth; -through which the ways -of Thy guidance were made known, -and the paths of Thy good pleasure were -marked out; -through which the foundations of error have been made to -tremble, -and the signs of wickedness have been abolished; -through which -the fountains of wisdom have burst forth, -and the heavenly table hath been -sent down; -through which Thou didst preserve Thy servants and didst -vouchsafe Thy healing; -through which Thou didst show forth Thy tender -mercies unto Thy servants and revealedst Thy forgiveness amidst Thy -creatures--I implore Thee to keep safe him who hath held fast and returned -unto Thee, -and clung to Thy mercy, -and seized the hem of Thy loving -providence. -Send down, -then, -upon him Thy healing, -and make him whole, -and -endue him with a constancy vouchsafed by Thee, -and a tranquillity bestowed -by Thy highness. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Healer, -the Preserver, -the Helper, -the Almighty, -the -Powerful, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Knowing. - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O my God! -I give praise to Thee, -that Thou hast made -me able so to reveal Thine utterances, -and manifest Thy proofs and Thy -testimonies, -that every proof hath been made to circle round my will, -and -every testimony to compass my pleasure. -Thou seest me, -O my Lord, -lying at -the mercy of Thine adversaries, -who have repudiated Thy signs, -and refuted -Thy testimony, -and turned back from Thy beauty, -and resolved to shed Thy -blood. -I beseech Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names, -by Thy name -through which Thou hast subdued all created things, -to graciously aid Thy -servants and Thy loved ones to cleave steadfastly to Thy Cause. -Give them, - -then, -to drink what will quicken their hearts in Thy days. -Enable them, - -moreover, -O my Lord, -to fix their gaze at all times upon Thy pleasure, -and -to yield Thee thanks for the evidences of Thine irrevocable decree. -For -Thou art, -verily, -praiseworthy in all that Thou hast done in the past, -or -wilt do in the future, -and art to be obeyed in whatsoever Thou hast wished -or wilt wish, -and to be loved in all that Thou hast desired or wilt -desire. -Thou lookest upon them that are dear to Thee with the eyes of Thy -loving-kindness, -and sendest down for them only that which will profit -them through Thy grace and Thy gifts. - - -We entreat Thee, -O Thou Who art the Cloud of Bounty and the Succorer of -the distressed, -that Thou wilt aid us to remember Thee, -and to make known -Thy Cause, -and to arise to help Thee. -Though all weakness, -we yet have -clung to Thy Name, -the Most Powerful, -the Almighty. - - -Bless Thou, -O my God, -them that have stood fast in Thy Cause, -and whom the -evil suggestions of the workers of iniquity have failed to deter from -turning towards Thy face, -and who have hastened with their whole hearts -toward Thy grace, -until they finally quaffed the water that is life indeed -from the hands of Thy bounty. - - -Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -No God is there save Thee, -the Mighty, - -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - -I give praise to Thee, -O my God, -that the fragrance of Thy loving-kindness -hath enraptured me, -and the gentle winds of Thy mercy have inclined me in -the direction of Thy bountiful favors. -Make me to quaff, -O my Lord, -from -the fingers of Thy bounteousness the living waters which have enabled -every one that hath partaken of them to rid himself of all attachment to -any one save Thee, -and to soar into the atmosphere of detachment from all -Thy creatures, -and to fix his gaze upon Thy loving providence and Thy -manifold gifts. - - -Make me ready, -in all circumstances, -O my Lord, -to serve Thee and to set -myself towards the adored sanctuary of Thy Revelation and of Thy Beauty. - -If it be Thy pleasure, -make me to grow as a tender herb in the meadows of -Thy grace, -that the gentle winds of Thy will may stir me up and bend me -into conformity with Thy pleasure, -in such wise that my movement and my -stillness may be wholly directed by Thee. - - -Thou art He, -by Whose name the Hidden Secret was divulged, -and the -Well-Guarded Name was revealed, -and the seals of the sealed-up Goblet were -opened, -shedding thereby its fragrance over all creation, -whether of the -past or of the future. -He who was athirst, -O my Lord, -hath hasted to -attain the living waters of Thy grace, -and the wretched creature hath -yearned to immerse himself beneath the ocean of Thy riches. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Lord the Beloved of the world and the Desire of -all them that have recognized Thee! -I am sore afflicted by the grief of my -separation from Thee, -in the days when the Day-Star of Thy presence hath -shed its radiance upon Thy people. -Write down, -then, -for me the recompense -decreed for such as have gazed on Thy face, -and have, -by Thy leave, -gained -admittance into the court of Thy throne, -and have, -at Thy bidding, -met -Thee face to face. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy name the splendors of which have -encompassed the earth and the heavens, -to enable me so to surrender my -will to what Thou hast decreed in Thy Tablets, -that I may cease to -discover within me any desire except what Thou didst desire through the -power of Thy sovereignty, -and any will save what Thou didst destine for me -by Thy will. - - -Whither shall I turn, -O my God, -powerless as I am to discover any other -way except the way Thou didst set before Thy chosen Ones? -All the atoms of -the earth proclaim Thee to be God, -and testify that there is none other -God besides Thee. -Thou hast from eternity been powerful to do what Thou -hast willed, -and to ordain what Thou hast pleased. - - -Do Thou destine for me, -O my God, -what will set me, -at all times, -towards -Thee, -and enable me to cleave continually to the cord of Thy grace, -and to -proclaim Thy name, -and to look for whatsoever may flow down from Thy pen. - -I am poor and desolate, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the All-Possessing, -the -Most High. -Have pity, -then, -upon me through the wonders of Thy mercy, -and -send down upon me, -every moment of my life, -the things wherewith Thou hast -recreated the hearts of all Thy creatures who have recognized Thy unity, - -and of all Thy people who are wholly devoted to Thee. - - -Thou, -verily, -art the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Knowing, -the -All-Wise. - - - - - - - - -Glorified art Thou, -O my Lord! -Thou beholdest my tribulations and all that -hath befallen me at the hands of such of Thy servants as keep company with -me, -who have disbelieved in Thy most resplendent signs, -and turned back -from Thy most effulgent Beauty. -I swear by Thy glory! -Such are the -troubles that vex me, -that no pen in the entire creation can either reckon -or describe them. - - -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art the King of names and the Creator of earth -and heaven, -so to assist me by Thy strengthening grace that nothing -whatsoever will have the power to hinder me from remembering Thee, -or -celebrating Thy praise, -or to keep me back from observing what Thou hast -prescribed unto me in Thy Tablets, -that I may so arise to serve Thee that -with bared head I will hasten forth from my habitation, -cry out in Thy -name amidst Thy creatures, -and proclaim Thy virtues among Thy servants. - -Having accomplished what Thou hadst decreed, -and delivered the thing Thou -hadst written down, -the wicked doers among Thy people would, -then, -compass -me about and would do with me in Thy path as would please them. - - -In the love I bear to Thee, -O my Lord, -my heart longeth for Thee with a -longing such as no heart hath known. -Here am I with my body between Thy -hands, -and my spirit before Thy face. -Do with them as it may please Thee, - -for the exaltation of Thy word, -and the revelation of what hath been -enshrined within the treasuries of Thy knowledge. - - -Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, -and able to ordain what Thou -pleasest. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O my God! -I can discover no one in Thy realm who can -befittingly turn unto Thee, -or is able to adequately hearken unto what -hath gone out of the mouth of Thy will. -I beseech Thee, -therefore, -O Thou -Who art the Possessor of the entire creation and the King of the realm of -Thine invention, -graciously to aid Thy creatures to accomplish that which -is pleasing and acceptable unto Thee, -that they may arise to serve Thy -Cause amidst Thy creatures, -and to speak forth Thy praise before all who -are in heaven and on earth. - - -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -Whose bounty hath surpassed all things, -and Whose -power hath transcended all things, -and Whose mercy hath encompassed all -things. -Look, -then, -upon Thy people with the eyes of Thy tender mercies, - -and leave them not to themselves and to their corrupt desires in Thy days. - -How farsoever they may have strayed from Thee, -and however grievously they -have turned back from Thy face, -yet Thou, -in Thine essence, -art the -All-Bountiful, -and, -in Thine inmost spirit, -art the Most Merciful. -Deal -with them according to the unrevealed tokens of Thy bounty and Thy gifts. - -Thou art, -verily, -the One to the power of Whose might all things have -testified, -and to Whose majesty and omnipotence the whole creation hath -borne witness. - - -No God is there but Thee, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -My God, -Thou Whom I adore and worship, -Who art Most Powerful! -I testify -that no description by any created thing can ever reveal Thee, -and no -praise which any being is able to utter can express Thee. -Neither the -comprehension of any one in the whole world, -nor the intelligence of any -of its peoples, -can, -as it befitteth Thee, -gain admittance into the court -of Thy holiness, -or unravel Thy mystery. -What sin hath kept the inmates of -the city of Thy names so far from Thine all-glorious Horizon, -and deprived -them of access to Thy most great Ocean? -One single letter of Thy Book is -the mother of all utterances, -and a word therefrom the begetter of all -creation. -What ingratitude have Thy servants shown forth that Thou hast -withheld them, -one and all, -from recognizing Thee? -A drop out of the ocean -of Thy mercy sufficeth to quench the flames of hell, -and a spark of the -fire of Thy love is enough to set ablaze a whole world. - - -O Thou Who art the All-Knowing! -Wayward though we be, -we still cling to -Thy bounty; -and though ignorant, -we still set our faces toward the ocean -of Thy wisdom. -Thou art that All-Bountiful Who art not deterred by a -multitude of sins from vouchsafing Thy bounty, -and the flow of Whose gifts -is not arrested by the withdrawal of the peoples of the world. -From -eternity the door of Thy grace hath remained wide open. -A dewdrop out of -the ocean of Thy mercy is able to adorn all things with the ornament of -sanctity, -and a sprinkling of the waters of Thy bounty can cause the -entire creation to attain unto true wealth. - - -Lift not the veil, -O Thou Who art the Concealer! -From eternity the tokens -of Thy bounty have encompassed the universe, -and the splendors of Thy Most -Great Name have been shed over all created things. -Deny not Thy servants -the wonders of Thy grace. -Cause them to be made aware of Thee, -that they -may bear witness to Thy unity, -and enable them to recognize Thee, -that -they may hasten towards Thee. -Thy mercy hath embraced the whole creation, - -and Thy grace hath pervaded all things. -From the billows of the ocean of -Thy generosity the seas of eagerness and enthusiasm were revealed. -Thou -art what Thou art. -Aught except Thee is unworthy of any mention unless it -entereth beneath Thy shadow, -and gaineth admittance into Thy court. - - -Whatever betide us, -we beseech Thine ancient forgiveness, -and seek Thine -all-pervasive grace. -Our hope is that Thou wilt deny no one Thy grace, -and -wilt deprive no soul of the ornament of fairness and justice. -Thou art the -King of all bounty, -and the Lord of all favors, -and supreme over all who -are in heaven and on earth. - - - - - - - -Dispel my grief by Thy bounty and Thy generosity, -O God, -my God, -and -banish mine anguish through Thy sovereignty and Thy might. -Thou seest me, - -O my God, -with my face set towards Thee at a time when sorrows have -compassed me on every side. -I implore Thee, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all -being, -and overshadowest all things visible and invisible, -by Thy Name -whereby Thou hast subdued the hearts and the souls of men, -and by the -billows of the Ocean of Thy mercy and the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy -bounty, -to number me with them whom nothing whatsoever hath deterred from -setting their faces toward Thee, -O Thou Lord of all names and Maker of the -heavens! - - -Thou beholdest, -O my Lord, -the things which have befallen me in Thy days. - -I entreat Thee, -by Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy names and the -Dawning-Place of Thine attributes, -to ordain for me what will enable me to -arise to serve Thee and to extol Thy virtues. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Almighty, -the Most Powerful, -Who art wont to answer the prayers of all -men! - - -And, -finally, -I beg of Thee by the light of Thy countenance to bless my -affairs, -and redeem my debts, -and satisfy my needs. -Thou art He to Whose -power and to Whose dominion every tongue hath testified, -and Whose majesty -and Whose sovereignty every understanding heart hath acknowledged. -No God -is there but Thee, -Who hearest and art ready to answer. - - - - - - - - -Create in me a pure heart, -O my God, -and renew a tranquil conscience -within me, -O my Hope! -Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy -Cause, -O my Best-Beloved, -and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy -path, -O Thou the Goal of my desire! -Through the power of Thy transcendent -might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, -O Source of my being, - -and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, -O Thou Who art my God! - -Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquillity on me, -O my Companion, - -and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except -Thee, -O my Master, -and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine -incorruptible Essence bring me joy, -O Thou Who art the most manifest of -the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden! - - - - - - - -I give praise to Thee, -O my God, -that Thou hast awakened me out of my -sleep, -and brought me forth after my disappearance, -and raised me up from -my slumber. -I have wakened this morning with my face set toward the -splendors of the Day-Star of Thy Revelation, -through Which the heavens of -Thy power and Thy majesty have been illumined, -acknowledging Thy signs, - -believing in Thy Book, -and holding fast unto Thy Cord. - - -I beseech Thee, -by the potency of Thy will and the compelling power of Thy -purpose, -to make of what Thou didst reveal unto me in my sleep the surest -foundation for the mansions of Thy love that are within the hearts of Thy -loved ones, -and the best instrument for the revelation of the tokens of -Thy grace and Thy loving-kindness. - - -Do Thou ordain for me through Thy most exalted Pen, -O my Lord, -the good of -this world and of the next. -I testify that within Thy grasp are held the -reins of all things. -Thou changest them as Thou pleasest. -No God is there -save Thee, -the Strong, -the Faithful. - - -Thou art He Who changeth through His bidding abasement into glory, -and -weakness into strength, -and powerlessness into might, -and fear into calm, - -and doubt into certainty. -No God is there but Thee, -the Mighty, -the -Beneficent. - - -Thou disappointest no one who hath sought Thee, -nor dost Thou keep back -from Thee any one who hath desired Thee. -Ordain Thou for me what becometh -the heaven of Thy generosity, -and the ocean of Thy bounty. -Thou art, - -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - - -My God, -Whom I worship and adore! -I bear witness unto Thy unity and Thy -oneness, -and acknowledge Thy gifts, -both in the past and in the present. - -Thou art the All-Bountiful, -the overflowing showers of Whose mercy have -rained down upon high and low alike, -and the splendors of Whose grace have -been shed over both the obedient and the rebellious. - - -O God of mercy, -before Whose door the quintessence of mercy hath bowed -down, -and round the sanctuary of Whose Cause loving-kindness, -in its -inmost spirit, -hath circled, -we beseech Thee, -entreating Thine ancient -grace, -and seeking Thy present favor, -that Thou mayest have mercy upon all -who are the manifestations of the world of being, -and to deny them not the -outpourings of Thy grace in Thy days. - - -All are but poor and needy, -and Thou, -verily, -art the All-Possessing, -the -All-Subduing, -the All-Powerful. - - - - - - - -I have wakened in Thy shelter, -O my God, -and it becometh him that seeketh -that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the -Stronghold of Thy defense. -Illumine my inner being, -O my Lord, -with the -splendors of the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, -even as Thou didst illumine -my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor. - - - - - - -O my God, -the God of bounty and mercy! -Thou art that King by Whose -commanding word the whole creation hath been called into being; -and Thou -art that All-Bountiful One the doings of Whose servants have never -hindered Him from showing forth His grace, -nor have they frustrated the -revelations of His bounty. - - -Suffer this servant, -I beseech Thee, -to attain unto that which is the -cause of his salvation in every world of Thy worlds. -Thou art, -verily, -the -Almighty, -the Most Powerful, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - - -My God, -the Object of my adoration, -the Goal of my desire, -the -All-Bountiful, -the Most Compassionate! -All life is of Thee and all power -lieth within the grasp of Thine omnipotence. -Whosoever Thou exaltest is -raised above the angels, -and attaineth the station: -"Verily, -We uplifted -him to a place on high! -"; -and whosoever Thou dost abase is made lower than -dust, -nay, -less than nothing. - - -O Divine Providence! -Though wicked, -sinful, -and intemperate, -we still seek -from Thee a "seat of truth, -" and long to behold the countenance of the -Omnipotent King. -It is Thine to command, -and all sovereignty belongeth to -Thee, -and the realm of might boweth before Thy behest. -Everything Thou -doest is pure justice, -nay, -the very essence of grace. -One gleam from the -splendors of Thy Name, -the All-Merciful, -sufficeth to banish and blot out -every trace of sinfulness from the world, -and a single breath from the -breezes of the Day of Thy Revelation is enough to adorn all mankind with a -fresh attire. - - -Vouchsafe Thy strength, -O Almighty One, -unto Thy weak creatures, -and -quicken them who are as dead, -that haply they may find Thee, -and may be -led unto the ocean of Thy guidance, -and may remain steadfast in Thy Cause. - -Should the fragrance of Thy praise be shed abroad by any of the divers -tongues of the world, -out of the East or out of the West, -it would, - -verily, -be prized and greatly cherished. -If such tongues, -however, -be -deprived of that fragrance, -they assuredly would be unworthy of any -mention, -be they words or thoughts. - - -We beg of Thee, -O Providence, -to show Thy way unto all men, -and to guide -them aright. -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful, -the -All-Knowing, -the All-Seeing. - - - - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O my God, -inasmuch as Thou hast turned the faces of Thy -servants towards the right-hand of the throne of Thy gifts, -and hast -caused them to be detached from all else besides Thee, -that they may -recognize Thy sovereignty and acknowledge Thy glory. -I testify to the -potency of Thy Cause, -the pervasive influence of Thy decree, -the -immutability of Thy will, -the endlessness of Thy purpose. -All things lie -prisoned within the grasp of Thy might, -and the whole creation is -destitute when brought face to face with the evidences of Thy wealth. - - -Deal Thou, -therefore, -O my God, -my Beloved, -my supreme Desire, -with Thy -servants and with all that were created by Thee as would beseem Thy beauty -and Thy greatness, -and would be worthy of Thy generosity and gifts. -Thou -art, -in truth, -He Whose mercy hath encompassed all the worlds, -and Whose -grace hath embraced all that dwell on earth and in heaven. -Who is there -that hath cried after Thee, -and whose prayer hath remained unanswered? - -Where is he to be found who hath reached forth towards Thee, -and whom Thou -hast failed to approach? -Who is he that can claim to have fixed his gaze -upon Thee, -and toward whom the eye of Thy loving-kindness hath not been -directed? -I bear witness that Thou hadst turned toward Thy servants ere -they had turned toward Thee, -and hadst remembered them ere they had -remembered Thee. -All grace is Thine, -O Thou in Whose hand is the kingdom -of Divine gifts and the source of every irrevocable decree. - - -Send down, -therefore, -O my God, -upon all that seek Thee that which will -entirely strip them of all that pertaineth not unto Thee, -and will draw -them nigh unto Thy Self. -Assist them, -by Thy grace, -to love Thee and to -conform unto that which shall please Thee. -Grant, -then, -that they may go -straight on in the path of Thy Cause, -the path wherein have slipped the -footsteps of the doubters among Thy people and the froward among Thy -servants. -Thou art, -verily, -the All-Powerful, -the Almighty, -the Most -Great. - - - - - - - -Lauded and glorified art Thou, -O my God! -I entreat Thee by the sighing of -Thy lovers and by the tears shed by them that long to behold Thee, -not to -withhold from me Thy tender mercies in Thy Day, -nor to deprive me of the -melodies of the Dove that extolleth Thy oneness before the light that -shineth from Thy face. -I am the one who is in misery, -O God! -Behold me -cleaving fast to Thy Name, -the All-Possessing. -I am the one who is sure to -perish; -behold me clinging to Thy Name, -the Imperishable. -I implore Thee, - -therefore, -by Thy Self, -the Exalted, -the Most High, -not to abandon me unto -mine own self and unto the desires of a corrupt inclination. -Hold Thou my -hand with the hand of Thy power, -and deliver me from the depths of my -fancies and idle imaginings, -and cleanse me of all that is abhorrent unto -Thee. - - -Cause me, -then, -to turn wholly unto Thee, -to put my whole trust in Thee, - -to seek Thee as my Refuge, -and to flee unto Thy face. -Thou art, -verily, -He -Who, -through the power of His might, -doeth whatsoever He desireth, -and -commandeth, -through the potency of His will, -whatsoever He chooseth. -None -can withstand the operation of Thy decree; -none can divert the course of -Thine appointment. -Thou art, -in truth, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the -Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God! -Thou seest how I have turned myself -toward Thee, -and set my face in the direction of Thy grace and Thy gifts. - -I implore Thee, -by Thy name through which Thou didst enable all them that -have recognized Thy unity to partake of the wine of Thy mercy, -and all -such as have drawn nigh unto Thee to quaff the living waters of Thy -loving-kindness, -to rid me entirely of all vain imaginings, -and to incline -me in the direction of Thy grace, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all men! - - -Graciously assist me, -O my God, -in the days of the Manifestation of Thy -Cause and of the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, -to tear asunder the veils -which have hindered me from recognizing Thee, -and from immersing myself -beneath the ocean of Thy knowledge. -Hold Thou me with the hands of Thy -power, -and grant that I may be so carried away by the sweet melodies of -the Dove of Thy oneness, -that I will cease to regard in all creation any -face except Thy face, -O Thou the Goal of my desire, -and will recognize in -the visible world naught else save the evidences of Thy might, -O Thou Who -art the God of mercy! - - -I am but a wretched creature, -O my Lord, -and Thou art the All-Possessing, - -the Most High; -and I am all weakness, -and Thou art the Almighty, -and the -Supreme Ordainer in both the beginning and the end. -Withhold not from me -the fragrances of Thy Revelation, -and shatter not my hopes in the -outpourings which have been sent down out of the heaven of Thy gifts. - -Ordain Thou for me, -O my God, -the good of this world and the world to -come, -and grant me what will profit me in every world of Thy worlds, -for I -know not what will help or harm me. -Thou, -in truth, -art the All-Knowing, - -the All-Wise. - - -Have mercy, -then, -O my God, -upon Thy servants who are drowned in the midst -of the ocean of evil suggestions, -and deliver them by the power of Thy -sovereignty, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and attributes! -Thou art -He Who from everlasting hath ordained what hath pleased Thee, -and will -unto everlasting abide the same. -No God is there but Thee, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - - -O God, -my God! -I have set out from my home, -holding fast unto the cord of -Thy love, -and I have committed myself wholly to Thy care and Thy -protection. -I entreat Thee by Thy power through which Thou didst protect -Thy loved ones from the wayward and the perverse, -and from every -contumacious oppressor, -and every wicked doer who hath strayed far from -Thee, -to keep me safe by Thy bounty and Thy grace. -Enable me, -then, -to -return to my home by Thy power and Thy might. -Thou art, -truly, -the -Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -From the sweet-scented streams of Thine eternity give me to drink, -O my -God, -and of the fruits of the tree of Thy being enable me to taste, -O my -Hope! -From the crystal springs of Thy love suffer me to quaff, -O my Glory, - -and beneath the shadow of Thine everlasting providence let me abide, -O my -Light! -Within the meadows of Thy nearness, -before Thy presence, -make me -able to roam, -O my Beloved, -and at the right hand of the throne of Thy -mercy, -seat me, -O my Desire! -From the fragrant breezes of Thy joy let a -breath pass over me, -O my Goal, -and into the heights of the paradise of -Thy reality let me gain admission, -O my Adored One! -To the melodies of the -dove of Thy oneness suffer me to hearken, -O Resplendent One, -and through -the spirit of Thy power and Thy might quicken me, -O my Provider! -In the -spirit of Thy love keep me steadfast, -O my Succorer, -and in the path of -Thy good-pleasure set firm my steps, -O my Maker! -Within the garden of -Thine immortality, -before Thy countenance, -let me abide for ever, -O Thou -Who art merciful unto me, -and upon the seat of Thy glory stablish me, -O -Thou Who art my Possessor! -To the heaven of Thy loving-kindness lift me -up, -O my Quickener, -and unto the Day-Star of Thy guidance lead me, -O Thou -my Attractor! -Before the revelations of Thine invisible spirit summon me -to be present, -O Thou Who art my Origin and my Highest Wish, -and unto the -essence of the fragrance of Thy beauty, -which Thou wilt manifest, -cause me -to return, -O Thou Who art my God! - - -Potent art Thou to do what pleasest Thee. -Thou art, -verily, -the Most -Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -the All-Highest. - - - - - - - -O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, -Whose beauty is my -sanctuary, -Whose habitation is my goal, -Whose praise is my hope, -Whose -providence is my companion, -Whose love is the cause of my being, -Whose -mention is my solace, -Whose nearness is my desire, -Whose presence is my -dearest wish and highest aspiration, -I entreat Thee not to withhold from -me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants. - -Supply me, -then, -with the good of this world and of the next. - - -Thou, -truly, -art the King of all men. -There is no God but Thee, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - - - - -O my Lord! -Make Thy beauty to be my food, -and Thy presence my drink, -and -Thy pleasure my hope, -and praise of Thee my action, -and remembrance of -Thee my companion, -and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, -and Thy -habitation my home, -and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified -from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from -Thee. - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - -Glory be to Thee, -O Lord my God! -Abase not him whom Thou hast exalted -through the power of Thine everlasting sovereignty, -and remove not far -from Thee him whom Thou hast caused to enter the tabernacle of Thine -eternity. -Wilt Thou cast away, -O my God, -him whom Thou hast overshadowed -with Thy Lordship, -and wilt Thou turn away from Thee, -O my Desire, -him to -whom Thou hast been a refuge? -Canst Thou degrade him whom Thou hast -uplifted, -or forget him whom Thou didst enable to remember Thee? - - -Glorified, -immensely glorified art Thou! -Thou art He Who from everlasting -hath been the King of the entire creation and its Prime Mover, -and Thou -wilt to everlasting remain the Lord of all created things and their -Ordainer. -Glorified art Thou, -O my God! -If Thou ceasest to be merciful -unto Thy servants, -who, -then, -will show mercy unto them; -and if Thou -refusest to succor Thy loved ones, -who is there that can succor them? - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou! -Thou art adored in Thy truth, - -and Thee do we all, -verily, -worship; -and Thou art manifest in Thy justice, - -and to Thee do we all, -verily, -bear witness. -Thou art, -in truth, -beloved -in Thy grace. -No God is there but Thee, -the Help in Peril, -the -Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Thy name is my healing, -O my God, -and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. - -Nearness to Thee is my hope, -and love for Thee is my companion. -Thy mercy -to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to -come. -Thou, -verily, -art the All-Bountiful, -the All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -O my God, -my Master, -the Goal of my desire! -This, -Thy servant, -seeketh to -sleep in the shelter of Thy mercy, -and to repose beneath the canopy of Thy -grace, -imploring Thy care and Thy protection. - - -I beg of Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thine eye that sleepeth not, -to guard mine -eyes from beholding aught beside Thee. -Strengthen, -then, -their vision that -they may discern Thy signs, -and behold the Horizon of Thy Revelation. -Thou -art He before the revelations of Whose omnipotence the quintessence of -power hath trembled. - - -No God is there but Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Subduing, -the -Unconditioned. - - - - - - -How can I choose to sleep, -O God, -my God, -when the eyes of them that long -for Thee are wakeful because of their separation from Thee; -and how can I -lie down to rest whilst the souls of Thy lovers are sore vexed in their -remoteness from Thy presence? - - -I have committed, -O my Lord, -my spirit and my entire being into the right -hand of Thy might and Thy protection, -and I lay my head on my pillow -through Thy power, -and lift it up according to Thy will and Thy -good-pleasure. -Thou art, -in truth, -the Preserver, -the Keeper, -the -Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - -By Thy might! -I ask not, -whether sleeping or waking, -but that which Thou -dost desire. -I am Thy servant and in Thy hands. -Do Thou graciously aid me -to do what will shed forth the fragrance of Thy good pleasure. -This, - -truly, -is my hope and the hope of them that enjoy near access to Thee. - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord of the worlds! - - - - - - - -My God, -my Adored One, -my King, -my Desire! -What tongue can voice my thanks -to Thee? -I was heedless, -Thou didst awaken me. -I had turned back from -Thee, -Thou didst graciously aid me to turn towards Thee. -I was as one -dead, -Thou didst quicken me with the water of life. -I was withered, -Thou -didst revive me with the heavenly stream of Thine utterance which hath -flowed forth from the Pen of the All-Merciful. - - -O Divine Providence! -All existence is begotten by Thy bounty; -deprive it -not of the waters of Thy generosity, -neither do Thou withhold it from the -ocean of Thy mercy. -I beseech Thee to aid and assist me at all times and -under all conditions, -and seek from the heaven of Thy grace Thine ancient -favor. -Thou art, -in truth, -the Lord of bounty, -and the Sovereign of the -kingdom of eternity. - - - - - - - -O God, -my God! -I beg of Thee by the ocean of Thy healing, -and by the -splendors of the Day-Star of Thy grace, -and by Thy Name through which Thou -didst subdue Thy servants, -and by the pervasive power of Thy most exalted -Word and the potency of Thy most august Pen, -and by Thy mercy that hath -preceded the creation of all who are in heaven and on earth, -to purge me -with the waters of Thy bounty from every affliction and disorder, -and from -all weakness and feebleness. - - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -Thy suppliant waiting at the door of Thy bounty, - -and him who hath set his hopes on Thee clinging to the cord of Thy -generosity. -Deny him not, -I beseech Thee, -the things he seeketh from the -ocean of Thy grace and the Day-Star of Thy loving-kindness. - - -Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -There is none other God save -Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - - - - - - -I have risen this morning by Thy grace, -O my God, -and left my home -trusting wholly in Thee, -and committing myself to Thy care. -Send down, - -then, -upon me, -out of the heaven of Thy mercy, -a blessing from Thy side, - -and enable me to return home in safety even as Thou didst enable me to set -out under Thy protection with my thoughts fixed steadfastly upon Thee. - - -There is none other God but Thee, -the One, -the Incomparable, -the -All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - - - - - - -Praise be unto Thee, -Who art my God and the God of all men, -and my Desire -and the Desire of all them that have recognized Thee, -and my Beloved and -the Beloved of such as have acknowledged Thy unity, -and the Object of my -adoration and of the adoration of them that have near access to Thee, -and -my Wish and the Wish of such as are wholly devoted to Thee, -and my Hope -and the Hope of them that have fixed their hearts upon Thee, -and my Refuge -and the Refuge of all such as have hastened towards Thee, -and my Haven and -the Haven of whosoever hath repaired unto Thee, -and my Goal and the Goal -of all them that have set themselves towards Thee, -and my Object and the -Object of those who have fixed their gaze upon Thee, -and my Paradise and -the Paradise of them that have ascended towards Thee, -and my Lode-star and -the Lode-star of all such as yearn after Thee, -and my Joy and the Joy of -all them that love Thee, -and my Light and the Light of all such as have -erred and asked to be forgiven by Thee, -and my Exultation and the -Exultation of all them that remember Thee, -and my Stronghold and the -Stronghold of all such as have fled to Thee, -and my Sanctuary and the -Sanctuary of all that dread Thee, -and my Lord and the Lord of all such as -dwell in the heavens and on the earth! - - -Unto Thee be praise for that Thou hast enraptured me by the sweetness of -Thine utterances, -and set me towards the horizon above which the splendors -of the Day-Star of Thy face have shone, -and caused me to turn unto Thee at -a time when most of Thy creatures had broken off from Thee. - - -Thou art He, -O my God, -Who hath unlocked the gate of heaven with the key -of Thy Name, -the Ever-Blessed, -the All-Powerful, -the All-Glorious, -the -Most Great, -and hast summoned all mankind to the ocean of Thy presence. -No -sooner had Thy most sweet voice been raised, -than all the inmates of the -Kingdom of Names and the Concourse on high were stirred up. -By Thy call -the fragrance of the raiment of Thy Revelation was wafted over such of Thy -creatures as have loved Thee, -and such of Thy people as have yearned -towards Thee. -They rose up and rushed forth to attain the Ocean of Thy -meeting, -and the Horizon of Thy beauty, -and the Tabernacle of Thy -Revelation and Thy majesty, -and the Sanctuary of Thy Presence and Thy -glory. -They were so inebriated with the wine of their reunion with Thee, - -that they rid themselves of all attachment to whatever they themselves and -others possessed. - - -These are Thy servants whom the ascendancy of the oppressor hath failed to -deter from fixing their eyes on the Tabernacle of Thy majesty, -and whom -the hosts of tyranny have been powerless to affright and divert their gaze -from the Day-Spring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy testimonies. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Thou the Lord of all being and the Enlightener of -all things visible and invisible! -Whoso hath quaffed from the hands of Thy -bounteousness the living waters of Thy love will never allow the things -pertaining to Thy creatures to keep him back from Thee, -neither will he be -dismayed at the refusal of all the dwellers of Thy realm to acknowledge -Thee. -Before all who are in heaven and on earth such a man will cry aloud, - -and announce unto the people the tumult of the Ocean of Thy bounty and the -splendors of the Luminaries of the heaven of Thy bestowals. - - -Happy indeed is the man that hath turned towards the sanctuary of Thy -presence, -and rid himself of all attachment to any one except Thyself. -He -is truly exalted who hath confessed Thy glory, -and fixed his eyes upon the -Day-Star of Thy loving-kindness. -He is endued with understanding who is -aware of Thy Revelation and hath acknowledged Thy manifold tokens, -Thy -signs, -and Thy testimonies. -He is a man of insight whose eyes have been -illumined with the brightness of Thy face, -and who, -as soon as Thy call -was raised, -hath recognized Thee. -He is a man of hearing who hath been led -to hearken unto Thy speech, -and to draw nigh unto the billowing ocean of -Thine utterances. - - -Behold Thou this stranger, -O my Lord, -who hath hastened to attain his most -exalted Home in the shelter of Thy shadowing mercy, -and this ailing soul -who hath set his face towards the ocean of Thy healing. - - -Look, -then, -O Thou my God Who settest my soul on fire, -upon the tears I -shed, -and the sighs I utter, -and the anguish that afflicteth my heart and -the fire that consumeth my being. -Thy glory beareth me witness, -O Thou, - -the Light of the world! -The fire of Thy love that burneth continually -within me hath so inflamed me that whoever among Thy creatures approacheth -me, -and inclineth his inner ear towards me, -cannot fail to hear its raging -within each of my veins. - - -I am so carried away by the sweetness of Thine utterances, -and so -inebriated with the wine of Thy tender mercies, -that my voice can never be -stilled, -nor can my suppliant hands any longer desist from being stretched -out towards Thee. -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -how mine eyes are fixed in the -direction of Thy grace, -and mine ears inclined towards the kingdom of -Thine utterance, -and my tongue unloosed to celebrate Thy praise, -and my -face set towards Thy face that surviveth all that hath been created by Thy -word, -and my hands raised up towards the heaven of Thy bounty and favor. - - -Wilt Thou keep back from Thee the stranger whom Thou didst call unto his -most exalted Home beneath the shadow of the wings of Thy mercy, -or cast -away the wretched creature that hath hastened to attain the shores of the -ocean of Thy wealth? -Wilt Thou shut up the door of Thy grace to the face -of Thy creatures after having opened it through the power of Thy might and -of Thy sovereignty, -or close the eyes of Thy people when Thou hast already -commanded them to turn unto the Day-Spring of Thy Beauty and the -Dawning-Place of the splendors of Thy countenance? - - -Nay, -and to this Thy glory beareth me witness! -Such is not my thought of -Thee, -nor the thought of those of Thy servants that have near access to -Thyself, -nor that of the sincere amongst Thy people. - - -Thou knowest, -and seest, -and hearest, -O my Lord, -that before every tree I -am moved to lift up my voice to Thee, -and before every stone I am impelled -to sigh and lament. -Hath it been Thy purpose in creating me, -O my God, -to -touch me with tribulation, -or to enable me to manifest Thy Cause in the -kingdom of Thy creation? - - -Thou hearest, -O my God, -my sighs and my groaning, -and beholdest my -powerlessness, -and my poverty, -and my misery, -and my woes, -and my -wretchedness. -I swear by Thy might! -I have wept with such a weeping that I -have been unable to make mention of Thee, -or to extol Thee, -and cried with -such a bitter cry that every mother in her bereavement was bewildered at -me, -and forgot her own anguish and the sighs she had uttered. - - -I implore Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thine Ark, -through which the potency of Thy -will was manifested and the energizing influences of Thy purpose were -revealed, -and which saileth on both land and sea through the power of Thy -might, -not to seize me in my mighty sins and great trespasses. -I swear by -Thy glory! -The waters of Thy forgiveness and Thy mercy have emboldened me, - -as hath Thy dealing, -in bygone ages, -with the sincere among Thy chosen -ones, -and with such of Thy Messengers as have proclaimed Thy oneness. - - -I am well aware, -O my Lord, -that I have been so carried away by the clear -tokens of Thy loving-kindness, -and so completely inebriated with the wine -of Thine utterance, -that whatever I behold I readily discover that it -maketh Thee known unto me, -and it remindeth me of Thy signs, -and of Thy -tokens, -and of Thy testimonies. -By Thy glory! -Every time I lift up mine -eyes unto Thy heaven, -I call to mind Thy highness and Thy loftiness, -and -Thine incomparable glory and greatness; -and every time I turn my gaze to -Thine earth, -I am made to recognize the evidences of Thy power and the -tokens of Thy bounty. -And when I behold the sea, -I find that it speaketh -to me of Thy majesty, -and of the potency of Thy might, -and of Thy -sovereignty and Thy grandeur. -And at whatever time I contemplate the -mountains, -I am led to discover the ensigns of Thy victory and the -standards of Thine omnipotence. - - -I swear by Thy might, -O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all mankind, - -and the destinies of the nations! -I am so inflamed by my love for Thee, - -and so inebriated with the wine of Thy oneness, -that I can hear from the -whisper of the winds the sound of Thy glorification and praise, -and can -recognize in the murmur of the waters the voice that proclaimeth Thy -virtues and Thine attributes, -and can apprehend from the rustling of the -leaves the mysteries that have been irrevocably ordained by Thee in Thy -realm. - - -Glorified art Thou, -O God of all names and Creator of the heavens! -I -render Thee thanks that Thou hast made known unto Thy servants this Day -whereon the river that is life indeed hath flowed forth from the fingers -of Thy bounty, -and the springtime of Thy revelation and Thy presence hath -appeared through Thy manifestation unto all who are in Thy heaven and all -who are on Thy earth. - - -This is the Day, -O my Lord, -whose brightness Thou hast exalted above the -brightness of the sun and the splendors thereof. -I testify that the light -it sheddeth proceedeth out of the glory of the light of Thy countenance, - -and is begotten by the radiance of the morn of Thy Revelation. -This is the -Day whereon the hopeless have been clothed with the raiment of confidence, - -and the sick attired with the robe of healing, -and the poor drawn nigh -unto the ocean of Thy riches. - - -I swear by Thy Beauty, -O King of eternity Who sittest on Thy most glorious -Throne! -He Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs and the Revealer of Thy -clear tokens hath, -notwithstanding the immensity of His wisdom and the -loftiness of His knowledge, -confessed His powerlessness to comprehend the -least of Thine utterances, -in their relation to Thy most exalted Pen, ---how -much more is He incapable of apprehending the nature of Thine all-glorious -Self and of Thy most august Essence! - - -I cannot think, -O my God, -of any words wherewith to make mention of Thee, - -and know not how to express or extol Thee. -Were I to attempt to describe -Thee by Thy names, -I would readily recognize that the kingdom of these -names is itself created through the movement of Thy fingers, -and trembleth -for fear of Thee. -And were I to venture to extol Thine attributes, -I would -be forced to admit that these attributes are Thine own creation, -and lie -within Thy grasp. -It behooveth not Them Who are the Manifestations of -these names and attributes to stand before the gate of the city of Thy -Revelation, -how much less to scale the heights whereon Thou didst stablish -the throne of Thy majesty. - - -I swear by Thy might, -O Thou Who art the King of names and the Maker of -the heavens! -Whatsoever hath been adorned with the robe of words is but -Thy creation which hath been generated in Thy realm and begotten through -the operation of Thy will, -and is wholly unworthy of Thy highness and -falleth short of Thine excellence. - - -And since it hath been demonstrated that Thy most august Self is -immeasurably exalted above all that hath been created in the world of -being, -and is far above the reach and ken of the apprehension of Thy -chosen Ones and Thy loved Ones, -the splendors of the light of Thy unity -are therefore manifested, -and it becometh evident unto every one, -whether -free or bond, -that Thou art One in Thine own Self, -one in Thy Cause, -and -one in Thy Revelation. -Great is the blessedness of the man who, -in his -love towards Thee, -hath rid himself of all attachment from every one -except Thyself, -and hastened unto the horizon of Thy Revelation, -and -attained unto this Cup which Thou hast caused to excel all the seas of the -earth. - - -I beg of Thee, -O my God, -by Thy power, -and Thy might, -and Thy sovereignty, - -which have embraced all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, -to make -known unto Thy servants this luminous Way and this straight Path, -that -they may acknowledge Thy unity and Thy oneness, -with a certainty which the -vain imaginations of the doubters will not impair, -nor the idle fancies of -the wayward obscure. -Illumine, -O my Lord, -the eyes of Thy servants, -and -brighten their hearts with the splendors of the light of Thy knowledge, - -that they may apprehend the greatness of this most sublime station, -and -recognize this most luminous Horizon, -that haply the clamor of men may -fail to deter them from turning their gaze towards the effulgent light of -Thy unity, -and to hinder them from setting their faces toward the Horizon -of detachment. - - -This is the Day, -O my Lord, -which Thou didst announce unto all mankind as -the Day whereon Thou wouldst reveal Thy Self, -and shed Thy radiance, -and -shine brightly over all Thy creatures. -Thou hast, -moreover, -entered into a -covenant with them, -in Thy Books, -and Thy Scriptures, -and Thy Scrolls, -and -Thy Tablets, -concerning Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, -and -hast appointed the Bayán to be the Herald of this Most Great and -all-glorious Manifestation, -and this most resplendent and most sublime -Appearance. - - -And when the world's horizon was illumined, -and He Who is the Most Great -Name was manifested, -all disbelieved in Him and in His signs, -except such -as have been carried away by the sweetness of Thy glorification and -praise. -There befell Him what must remain inscrutable to everyone except -Thee, -Whose knowledge transcendeth all who are in Thy heaven and all who -are on Thy earth. - - -Thou well knowest, -O my God, -that the Revealer of the Bayán (the Báb) hath -commanded all mankind concerning Thy Cause, -and Thy Revelation, -and Thy -Sovereignty. -He hath said, -and sweet is His speech: -"Beware lest the Bayán -and its Letters keep you back from Him Who is the Most Merciful and from -His sovereignty. -" He, -moreover, -hath written: -"Were He to produce no more -than one verse, -ye must not deny Him. -Haste ye towards Him, -that haply He -may cause to descend upon you what He pleaseth, -as a token of His grace -unto you. -He truly is the Possessor of His servants, -and the King of -creation. -" - -Thou seest, -then, -O Thou Who art the Beloved of the world and the Revealer -of the Most Great Name, -how He hath come down with the kingdom of His -signs, -and in a manner that hath caused the atoms of the earth to testify -that the whole world hath been filled with these signs. -And yet, - -notwithstanding this most manifest and all-glorious Revelation, -and these -signs which none can appraise except Thee, -O Thou the King of names, -Thou -beholdest how they have broken off from Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thine -Essence, -and have caviled at the One Who is the Fountain-Head of Thy -wisdom and of Thine utterance. -They were so seized with thirst for fame, - -that they rejected Thy tokens, -and Thy testimonies, -and Thy signs, -which -every man of insight perceiveth in whatsoever declareth Thy greatness, -and -Thy sovereignty, -and acknowledgeth Thy Revelation and Thy might. -They have -so traduced Him as to cause the inmates of the all-glorious Tabernacle and -the Concourse on high to lament, -and have uttered such calumnies against -Him that the souls of Thy chosen Ones and the hearts of them that are dear -to Thee have melted. -They have erred so grievously that they cast away Thy -most resplendent signs, -and clung to their idle fancies, -O Thou Who art -the Possessor of Names and the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth -below! - - -Thou art, -O my God and the Exultation of my heart, -the One Who hath -adorned Thy Tablet, -of which none is aware except Thee, -with the mention -of this Day which Thou didst call after Thy name, -that haply none may on -that day be seen save Thy most august Self, -and naught else be brought to -mind except Thy most sweet remembrance. - - -No sooner had He revealed Himself than the foundations of the kindreds of -the earth shook and trembled, -and the learned swooned away, -and the wise -were bewildered, -except such as have, -through the power of Thy might, - -drawn nigh unto Thee, -and received the choice wine of Thy Revelation from -the hand of Thy grace, -and have quaffed it in Thy name, -and exclaimed: - -"Praise be unto Thee, -O Thou the Desire of the worlds! -and glory be to -Thee, -O Thou Who art the Exultation of the hearts that pant after Thee! -" - -My God, -my Master, -my Highest Hope, -and the Goal of my desire! -Thou seest -and hearest the sighing of this wronged One, -from this darksome well which -the vain imaginations of Thine adversaries have built, -and from this blind -pit which the idle fancies of the wicked among Thy creatures have digged. - -By Thy Beauty, -O Thou Whose glory is uncovered to the face of men! -I am -not impatient in the troubles that touch me in my love for Thee, -neither -in the adversities which I suffer in Thy path. -Nay, -I have, -by Thy power, - -chosen them for mine own self, -and I glory in them amongst such of Thy -creatures as enjoy near access to Thee, -and those of Thy servants that are -wholly devoted to Thy Self. - - -I beseech Thee, -however, -O Thou Who art the Enlightener of the world and -the Lord of the nations, -at this very moment when, -with the hands of hope, - -I have clung to the hem of the raiment of Thy mercy and Thy bounty, -to -forgive Thy servants who have soared in the atmosphere of Thy nearness, - -and set their faces towards the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, - -and turned unto the horizon of Thy good pleasure, -and approached the ocean -of Thy mercy, -and all their lives long have spoken forth Thy praise, -and -have been inflamed with the fire of their love for Thee. -Do Thou ordain -for them, -O Lord my God, -both before and after their death, -what becometh -the loftiness of Thy bounty and the excellence of Thy loving-kindness. - - -Grant, -O my Lord, -that they who have ascended unto Thee may repair unto -Him Who is the most exalted Companion, -and abide beneath the shadow of the -Tabernacle of Thy majesty and the Sanctuary of Thy glory. -Sprinkle, -O my -Lord, -upon them from the ocean of Thy forgiveness what will make them -worthy to abide, -so long as Thine own sovereignty endureth, -within Thy -most exalted kingdom and Thine all-highest dominion. -Potent art Thou to do -what pleaseth Thee. - - -Deny not Thy loved ones, -O my Lord, -the sweet savors of this Day whereon -the mysteries of Thy name, -the Self-Subsisting, -were unraveled, -and all -that had been enshrined within the treasuries of Thy wisdom was revealed. - -This is the Day, -O my Lord, -whereon every atom of the earth hath been made -to vibrate and to cry out: -"O Thou Who art the Revealer of signs and the -King of creation! -I, -verily, -perceive the fragrance of Thy presence. - -Methinks Thou hast revealed Thyself, -and unlocked the door of reunion with -Thee before all who are in Thy heaven and all who are on Thy earth. -I am -persuaded through the fragrance of Thy robe, -O my Lord, -that the world -hath been honored through Thy presence, -and hath inhaled the sweet smell -of Thy meeting. -I know not, -however, -O Thou the Beloved of the world and -the Desire of the nations, -the place wherein the throne of Thy majesty -hath been established, -nor the seat which hath been made Thy footstool, - -and been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy face. -" - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Thou Who art the Lord of all being and the -Possessor of all things visible and invisible! -Every man of understanding -hath been so bewildered at Thy knowledge, -and every man endued with -insight been so perplexed in his attempt to fathom the signs of Thy great -glory, -that all have recognized their powerlessness to visualize, -and -their impotence to soar into, -the heaven wherefrom one of the Luminaries -of the Manifestations of Thy knowledge and of the Day-Springs of Thy -wisdom hath shone forth. -Who is he that shall befittingly describe this -most sublime station and this most august seat--the seat which, -as decreed -by Thee, -transcendeth the comprehension of Thy creatures and the -testimonies of Thy servants, -and which hath everlastingly been hid from -the understanding and the knowledge of men, -and been closed with the seal -of Thy name, -the Self-Subsisting. - - -I swear by Thy glory and Thy sovereignty which overshadow the kingdoms of -earth and of heaven! -Were any of Thy chosen Ones and Thy Messengers to -meditate on the manifold evidences of Thy most exalted Pen--a Pen which is -driven by the fingers of Thy will--and were he to muse on its mysteries, - -and its tokens, -and all that it showeth forth, -he would be so perplexed -that his tongue would fail to extol and describe Thee, -and his heart would -be utterly unable to understand Thee. -For he would, -at one time, -discover -that from this Pen there floweth out unto all created things the water -that is life indeed, -and that the Pen itself hath been named by Thee the -trumpet whereby the dead speed out of their sepulchers. -At another time he -would find that there proceedeth from this Pen such fire as Thine own -Revelation can kindle, -and as He Who conversed with Thee (Moses) on Sinai -hath perceived. - - -How marvelous, -then, -are the manifold tokens of Thy might, -and how great -are the diverse evidences of Thy power! -The learned have, -without -exception, -admitted their ignorance when confronted with the radiance of -the Luminary of Thy knowledge; -and the mighty have all confessed their -impotence in the face of the billowing Ocean of Thy power; -and the rich -have one and all acknowledged their poverty before the effusions of the -Treasuries of Thy wealth; -and the worldly wise have each recognized their -nothingness beside the splendors of the Light of Thy beauty; -and the -exalted have all witnessed unto their abasement when face to face with the -effulgence of the Day-Star of Thy glory; -and they who are in authority -have borne witness to their own evanescence and to the evanescence of -others, -and discovered the eternity of Thy majesty, -and of Thy -sovereignty, -and of Thy sublimity, -and of Thy power. - - -My God, -and the God of all things, -and my King and the King of all things, - -and the Beloved of my soul, -and the Goal of my desire! -Thou knowest full -well that I make mention of Thee, -in this day, -in the name of such of Thy -creatures as have detached themselves from all except Thee, -and I extol -Thy virtues through the tongue of those of Thy people that have recognized -Thy oneness, -that haply there may pour out from the sighs which they utter -in their love and their yearning for Thee what will melt away all that may -hinder Thy servants from setting their faces towards the heaven of Thy -knowledge and the kingdom of Thy signs. - - -This, -then, -O my God and the God of all names, -and the Creator of earth -and heaven, -is the Day whereon He Whose heart gloweth with the flaming -fire of Thy presence is calling upon Thee. -Where can separation from Thee -be found, -O my God, -so that reunion with Thee may be clearly recognized at -the appearance of the Light of Thy unity, -and the revelation of the -splendors of the Sun of Thy oneness? -I ask pardon of Thee, -O my God, -for -all that hath been said, -and for whatsoever hath flowed out, -and is now -flowing out from my Pen in Thy days. -I testify that Thou hast decreed that -the offering of prayer should befit not me, -but Him Who hath, -at Thy -bidding and in conformity with Thy pleasure, -preceded me. -Rather hast Thou -ordained that the revelation of verses should be specially attributed unto -this mighty Manifestation, -and to This Announcement that hath adorned the -Scrolls of Thy majesty and Thy Tablet in which account is kept. - - -I render Thee thanks, -O Thou Who hast lighted Thy fire within my soul, -and -cast the beams of Thy light into my heart, -that Thou hast taught Thy -servants how to make mention of Thee, -and revealed unto them the ways -whereby they can supplicate Thee, -through Thy most holy and exalted -tongue, -and Thy most august and precious speech. -But for Thy leave, -who is -there that could venture to express Thy might and Thy grandeur; -and were -it not for Thine instruction, -who is the man that could discover the ways -of Thy pleasure in the kingdom of Thy creation? - - -I beseech Thee, -O God of bounty and King of all created things, -to guard -Thy servants from the imaginations which their hearts may devise. -Raise -them up, -then, -to such heights that their footsteps may slip not in the -face of the evidences of Thy handiwork, -which the manifold exigencies of -Thy wisdom have ordained, -and whose secrets Thou hast hid from the face of -Thy people and Thy creatures. -Withhold them not, -O my Lord, -from the ocean -of Thy knowledge, -neither do Thou deprive them of what Thou didst destine -for such of Thy chosen ones as have near access to Thee, -and those of Thy -trusted ones as are wholly devoted to Thy Self. -Supply them, -then, -from -Thy sea of certainty with what will calm the agitation of their hearts. - -Turn, -O Lord my God, -the darkness of their fancies into the brightness of -certitude, -and cause them to arise, -and to walk steadfastly in Thy -straight Path, -that haply Thy Book may not hinder them from recognizing -Him Who is its Revealer, -and Thy names from acknowledging the One Who is -their Creator, -and their Provider, -and their Origin, -and their King, -and -their Begetter, -and their Destroyer, -and their Glorifier, -and their -Abaser, -and their Governor, -and the Sovereign Protector of their Bearers. - - -Thou art the One, -O my God and my Ruler, -Who hast sent down Thy Book that -Thou mayest manifest my Cause, -and glorify my Word. -Through it Thou didst -enter into a Covenant, -concerning me, -with all that hath been created in -Thy realm. -Thou seest, -O Beloved of the world, -how the rebellious among -Thy creatures have made of that Covenant a bulwark for themselves, -and -through it have withdrawn from Thy Beauty, -and repudiated Thy signs. - - -Thou art He, -O my God, -Who hath commanded them in Thy great Book, -and -said: -"Fear ye the Most Merciful, -O people of the Bayán, -and deny not Him -for Whom I have ordained the Bayán to be one of the leaves of His -Paradise. -I, -verily, -esteem it as a gift from me unto Him. -Were it His -pleasure to accept it, -He, -truly, -is the Most Bountiful; -and if He cast it -away and refuse to consider it, -His verdict is just, -and He, -in very -truth, -is Praiseworthy in His acts, -and meet to be obeyed in His behests. - -To none is given the right to cavil at Him. -" - -Thou beholdest, -therefore, -O my God, -how this wronged one hath fallen into -the hands of such as have denied Thy right, -and broken off from Thy -sovereignty. -He, -round whose person circleth Thy proof, -and in whose name -and on behalf of whose sovereignty Thy testimony crieth out unto all -created things, -hath suffered more grievously in his days than any pen can -recount, -and been so harassed that He Who is Thy Spirit (Jesus) lamented, - -and all the denizens of Thy Kingdom and all the inmates of Thy Tabernacle -in the realms above cried with a great and bitter lamentation. - - -Should any one incline his inner ear, -he would hear the cry and the -wailing of all created things over what hath befallen Him Whom the world -hath wronged, -at the hands of them with whom Thou hast covenanted in the -Day of Separation. -Where is that fair-minded soul, -O my God, -who will -judge equitably Thy Cause, -and where is the man of insight to be found who -will behold Thee with Thine own eyes? -Is there any man of hearing who will -hear Thee with Thine ears, -or one endued with eloquence who will speak the -truth in Thy days? - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Thou Who beholdest me from Thine all-glorious -horizon, -and hearest the voice of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no -passing! -Should any one consider Thy Books which Thou didst name the -Bayán, -and ponder in his heart what hath been revealed therein, -he would -discover that each of these Books announceth my Revelation, -and declareth -my Name, -and testifieth to my Self, -and proclaimeth my Cause, -and my -Praise, -and my Rising, -and the radiance of my Glory. -And yet, - -notwithstanding Thy proclamation, -O my God, -and in spite of the words Thou -didst utter, -O my Beloved, -Thou hast seen and heard their calumnies -against me, -and their evil doings in my days. - - -I testify in my present state, -O my Lord, -and against the will of him who -hath turned his back to Thee (Mírzá Yahyá), -that Thou art God, -and that -there is none other God beside Thee. -This, -verily, -is the Day wherewith -Thy Scriptures, -and Thy Books, -and Thy Tablets, -have been adorned. -And He -Who now speaketh is, -in truth, -the Well-guarded Treasure, -and the Hidden -Secret, -and the Preserved Tablet, -and the Impenetrable Mystery, -and the -Sealed Book. -He, -truly, -is to be obeyed in whatsoever He commandeth, -and -decreeth, -and revealeth, -and is to be loved in everything He, -through His -sovereignty, -enjoineth, -and, -through His power, -ordaineth. -Whoso will -hesitate for less than the twinkling of an eye, -hath, -verily, -denied Thy -right, -and repudiated all that Thou hast revealed in Thy Books, -and in Thy -Scriptures, -and sent down with Thy chosen Ones, -and Thy Prophets, -and Thy -Messengers, -and the Trustees of Thy Revelation. - - -I beg of Thee, -O Thou in Whose hands are the kingdoms of earth and heaven, - -and in Whose grasp lie all who dwell in the dominions of Thy Revelation -and Thy creation, -not to withhold the glance of Thy favors from such as -have sustained tribulations in Thy path, -and tasted of the cup of woe in -their love towards Thee, -and have been cast into prison in Thy name, -and -endured what none of Thy creatures and Thy people have endured. -They are -Thy servants, -O my Lord, -who have responded to Thee as soon as Thou didst -send out Thy summons, -and have set their faces towards Thee when the light -of Thy countenance was lifted upon them, -and turned unto Thee at the time -when Thy most exalted horizon shone forth with the brightness of Thy name -through which all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth swooned away. - -Ordain for them, -O my Lord, -what Thou didst ordain for Thy chosen ones who -have welcomed the darts of the infidels in Thy Cause and for love of Thee, - -and hasted to attain the orient of tribulation with Thy name on their lips -and Thy remembrance in their hearts. -Thou art the One, -O my God, -Who hath -promised in Thy perspicuous utterances to remember them in Thy Book as a -recompense for their works in Thy days. - - -Bless them, -O my God, -and ascribe unto them such glory as hath shone forth -above the horizon of Thy will, -and hath shed its splendors from the -kingdom of Thine utterance. -Immerse them, -O my Lord, -beneath the ocean of -Thy mercy, -and illumine them with the dawning light of Thy Revelation. - -Forgive, -then, -O my God, -their fathers and their mothers, -by Thy favor, - -and Thy bounty, -and Thy tender mercies. -Send, -then, -upon them from the -right hand of Thy most exalted Paradise the fragrance of the robe of Thine -all-glorious Beauty. -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou, - -verily, -art the Governor, -the Ordainer, -the All-Bountiful, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O Thou the Beloved of the world, -and the Adored of -the hearts of them that have recognized Thee. - - - - - - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy mighty Sign, -and by the revelation of Thy -grace amongst men, -to cast me not away from the gate of the city of Thy -presence, -and to disappoint not the hopes I have set on the manifestations -of Thy grace amidst Thy creatures. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy -Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, - -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe -to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy most sweet Voice and by Thy most exalted -Word, -to draw me ever nearer to the threshold of Thy door, -and to suffer -me not to be far removed from the shadow of Thy mercy and the canopy of -Thy bounty. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, - -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the -Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all -in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the splendor of Thy luminous brow and the -brightness of the light of Thy countenance, -which shineth from the -all-highest horizon, -to attract me by the fragrance of Thy raiment, -and -make me drink of the choice wine of Thine utterance. -Thou seest me, -O my -God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most -Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging -to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the -world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy hair which moveth across Thy face, -even -as Thy most exalted pen moveth across the pages of Thy Tablets, -shedding -the musk of hidden meanings over the kingdom of Thy creation, -so to raise -me up to serve Thy Cause that I shall not fall back, -nor be hindered by -the suggestions of them who have caviled at Thy signs and turned away from -Thy face. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the -Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most -Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in -this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Name which Thou hast made the King of -Names, -by which all who are in heaven and all who are on earth have been -enraptured, -to enable me to gaze on the Day-Star of Thy Beauty, -and to -supply me with the wine of Thine utterance. -Thou seest me, -O my God, - -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, - -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the -hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to -come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the Tabernacle of Thy majesty upon the -loftiest summits, -and the Canopy of Thy Revelation on the highest hills, - -to graciously aid me to do what Thy will hath desired and Thy purpose hath -manifested. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, - -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the -Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all -in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Beauty that shineth forth above the -horizon of eternity, -a Beauty before which as soon as it revealeth itself -the kingdom of beauty boweth down in worship, -magnifying it in ringing -tones, -to grant that I may die to all that I possess and live to -whatsoever belongeth unto Thee. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy -Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, - -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe -to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the Manifestation of Thy Name, -the -Well-Beloved, -through Whom the hearts of Thy lovers were consumed and the -souls of all that dwell on earth have soared aloft, -to aid me to remember -Thee amongst Thy creatures, -and to extol Thee amidst Thy people. -Thou -seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, - -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and -clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and -in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree and the -murmur of the breezes of Thine utterance in the kingdom of Thy names, -to -remove me far from whatsoever Thy will abhorreth, -and draw me nigh unto -the station wherein He Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs hath shone -forth. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the -Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most -Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in -this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by that Letter which, -as soon as it proceeded -out of the mouth of Thy will, -hath caused the oceans to surge, -and the -winds to blow, -and the fruits to be revealed, -and the trees to spring -forth, -and all past traces to vanish, -and all veils to be rent asunder, - -and them who are devoted to Thee to hasten unto the light of the -countenance of their Lord, -the Unconstrained, -to make known unto me what -lay hid in the treasuries of Thy knowledge and concealed within the -repositories of Thy wisdom. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, - -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the -Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to -which have clung all in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the fire of Thy love which drove sleep from -the eyes of Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones, -and by their remembrance -and praise of Thee at the hour of dawn, -to number me with such as have -attained unto that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book and manifested -through Thy will. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most -Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most -Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which -have clung all in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by the light of Thy countenance which impelled -them who are nigh unto Thee to meet the darts of Thy decree, -and such as -are devoted to Thee to face the swords of Thine enemies in Thy path, -to -write down for me with Thy most exalted Pen what Thou hast written down -for Thy trusted ones and Thy chosen ones. -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding -to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most -Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the -robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Thy Name through which Thou hast hearkened -unto the call of Thy lovers, -and the sighs of them that long for Thee, -and -the cry of them that enjoy near access to Thee, -and the groaning of them -that are devoted to Thee, -and through which Thou hast fulfilled the wishes -of them that have set their hopes on Thee, -and hast granted them their -desires, -through Thy grace and Thy favors, -and by Thy Name through which -the ocean of forgiveness surged before Thy face, -and the clouds of Thy -generosity rained upon Thy servants, -to write down for every one who hath -turned unto Thee, -and observed the fast prescribed by Thee, -the recompense -decreed for such as speak not except by Thy leave, -and who forsook all -that they possessed in Thy path and for love of Thee. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thyself, -and by Thy signs, -and Thy clear -tokens, -and the shining light of the Day-Star of Thy Beauty, -and Thy -Branches, -to cancel the trespasses of those who have held fast to Thy -laws, -and have observed what Thou hast prescribed unto them in Thy Book. - -Thou seest me, -O my God, -holding to Thy Name, -the Most Holy, -the Most -Luminous, -the Most Mighty, -the Most Great, -the Most Exalted, -the Most -Glorious, -and clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in -this world and in the world to come. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -I supplicate Thee by Him Whom Thou hast -called into being, -Whose Revelation Thou hast ordained to be Thine own -Revelation and His Concealment Thine own Concealment. -Through His -Firstness Thou hast confirmed Thine own Firstness, -and through His -Lastness Thou hast affirmed Thine own Lastness. -Through the power of His -might and the influence of His sovereignty the mighty have apprehended -Thine omnipotence, -and through His glory they who are endowed with -authority have acknowledged Thy majesty and greatness. -Through His supreme -ascendancy Thy transcendent sovereignty and all-encompassing dominion have -been recognized, -and through His will Thine own will hath been revealed. - -Through the light of His countenance the splendors of Thine own face have -shone forth, -and through His Cause Thine own Cause hath been made -manifest. -Through the generative power of His utterance the whole earth -hath been made the recipient of the wondrous signs and tokens of Thy -sovereignty, -and the heavens have been filled with the revelations of -Thine incomparable majesty, -and the seas have been enriched with the -sacred pearls of Thine omniscience and wisdom, -and the trees adorned with -the fruits of Thy knowledge. -Through Him all things have sung Thy praise, - -and all the eyes have been turned in the direction of Thy mercy. -Through -Him the faces of all have been set towards the splendors of the light of -Thy countenance, -and the souls of all have been inclined unto the -revelations of Thy divine greatness. - - -How great is Thy power! -How exalted Thy sovereignty! -How lofty Thy might! - -How excellent Thy majesty! -How supreme is Thy grandeur--a grandeur which He -Who is Thy Manifestation hath made known and wherewith Thou hast invested -Him as a sign of Thy generosity and bountiful favor. -I bear witness, -O my -God, -that through Him Thy most resplendent signs have been uncovered, -and -Thy mercy hath encompassed the entire creation. -But for Him, -how could the -Celestial Dove have uttered its songs or the Heavenly Nightingale, - -according to the decree of God, -have warbled its melody? - - -I testify that no sooner had the First Word proceeded, -through the potency -of Thy will and purpose, -out of His mouth, -and the First Call gone forth -from His lips than the whole creation was revolutionized, -and all that are -in the heavens and all that are on earth were stirred to the depths. - -Through that Word the realities of all created things were shaken, -were -divided, -separated, -scattered, -combined and reunited, -disclosing, -in both -the contingent world and the heavenly kingdom, -entities of a new creation, - -and revealing, -in the unseen realms, -the signs and tokens of Thy unity and -oneness. -Through that Call Thou didst announce unto all Thy servants the -advent of Thy most great Revelation and the appearance of Thy most perfect -Cause. - - -No sooner had that Revelation been unveiled to men's eyes than the signs -of universal discord appeared among the peoples of the world, -and -commotion seized the dwellers of earth and heaven, -and the foundations of -all things were shaken. -The forces of dissension were released, -the -meaning of the Word was unfolded, -and every several atom in all created -things acquired its own distinct and separate character. -Hell was made to -blaze, -and the delights of Paradise were uncovered to men's eyes. -Blessed -is the man that turneth towards Thee, -and woe betide him who standeth -aloof from Thee, -who denieth Thee and repudiateth Thy signs in this -Revelation wherein the faces of the exponents of denial have turned black -and the faces of the exponents of truthfulness have turned white, -O Thou -Who art the Possessor of all names and attributes, -Who holdest in Thy -grasp the empire of whatever hath been created in heaven and on earth! - - -Praise be to Thee, -therefore, -O my God--such praise as Thou didst ascribe -to Thine own Self, -and which none except Thee can either comprehend or -reckon. -Thou art He, -O my Lord, -Who hath made known His own Self unto me, - -at a time when Thy servants have failed to recognize Thee--servants who, -by -virtue of the ties that bind them to Thee, -have been ruling over all that -dwell on earth and have been vaunting themselves over its peoples. -Were I, - -O my God, -to exercise from pole to pole supreme dominion over the earth, - -and were I to be offered all the treasures it containeth, -and were I to -expend them in Thy path, -I would still be powerless to attain unto this -station, -unless I were assisted and strengthened by Thee. -And were I to -glorify Thee, -O my God, -so long as the glory of Thy majesty endureth and -the influence of Thy sovereignty and power will last, -such a glorification -could never be compared with any of the praises which Thou, -as a token of -Thy grace, -hast taught me, -and wherewith Thou hast bidden me to extol Thy -virtues. -If such be the excellence of each one of the praises which Thou -hast taught me, -how immeasurably greater must be the excellence of the -station of the One Who hath known Thee, -Who hath entered Thy Presence, -and -pursued steadfastly the path of Thy Cause! - - -I have clearly perceived, -and I am wholly persuaded, -that Thou hast from -everlasting been immeasurably exalted above the mention of all beings, -and -wilt continue unto everlasting to remain far above the conception of Thy -creatures. -None can befittingly praise Thee except Thine own Self and such -as are like unto Thee. -Thou hast, -verily, -been at all times, -and wilt -everlastingly continue to remain, -immensely exalted beyond and above all -comparison and likeness, -above all imagination of parity or resemblance. - -Having, -thus, -recognized Thee as One Who is incomparable, -and Whose nature -none can possess, -it becometh incontrovertibly evident that whosoever may -praise Thee, -his praise can befit only such as are of his own nature, -and -are subject to his own limitations, -and it can in no wise adequately -describe the sublimity of Thy sovereignty, -nor scale the heights of Thy -majesty and holiness. -How sweet, -therefore, -is the praise Thou givest to -Thine own Self, -and the description Thou givest of Thine own Being! - - -I testify, -O my God, -that Thou hast, -from eternity, -sent down upon Thy -servants naught else except that which can cause them to soar up and be -drawn near unto Thee, -and to ascend into the heaven of Thy transcendent -oneness. -Thou hast established Thy bounds among them, -and ordained them to -stand among Thy creatures as evidences of Thy justice and as signs of Thy -mercy, -and to be the stronghold of Thy protection amongst Thy people, -that -no man may in Thy realm transgress against his neighbor. -How great is the -blessedness of him who, -for love of Thy beauty and for the sake of Thy -pleasure, -hath curbed the desires of a corrupt inclination and observed -the precepts laid down by Thy most exalted Pen! -He, -in truth, -is to be -numbered with them that have attained unto all good, -and followed the way -of guidance. - - -I beseech Thee, -O my Lord, -by Thy Name through which Thou hast enabled Thy -servants and Thy people to know Thee, -through which Thou hast drawn the -hearts of those who have recognized Thee towards the resplendent court of -Thy oneness, -and the souls of Thy favored ones unto the Day-Spring of Thy -unity, ---I beseech Thee to grant that I may be assisted to observe the fast -wholly for Thy sake, -O Thou Who art full of majesty and glory! -Empower me, - -then, -O my God, -to be reckoned among them that have clung to Thy laws and -precepts for the sake of Thee alone, -their eyes fixed on Thy face. -These, - -indeed, -are they whose wine is all that hath proceeded out of the mouth of -Thy primal will, -whose pure beverage is Thine enthralling call, -whose -heavenly River is Thy love, -whose Paradise is entrance into Thy presence -and reunion with Thee. -For Thou hast been their Beginning and their End, - -and their Highest Hope, -and their Supreme Desire. -Blinded be the eye that -gazeth on whatsoever may displease Thee, -and confounded be the soul that -seeketh the things that are contrary to Thy will. - - -Deign, -O my God, -I implore Thee, -by Thy Self and by them, -to accept, - -through Thy grace and Thy loving-kindness, -the works we have performed, - -however much they fall short of the loftiness of Thy state and the -sublimity of Thy station, -O Thou Who art most dear to the hearts that long -for Thee, -and the Healer of the souls that have recognized Thee! -Rain -down, -therefore, -upon us from the heaven of Thy mercy and the clouds of -Thy gracious providence that which will cleanse us from the faintest trace -of evil and corrupt desires, -and will draw us nearer unto Him Who is the -Manifestation of Thy most exalted and all-glorious Self. -Thou art, -verily, - -the Lord of this world and of the next, -and art powerful to do all things. - - -Do Thou bless, -O Lord my God, -the Primal Point, -through Whom the point of -creation hath been made to revolve in both the visible and invisible -worlds, -Whom Thou hast designated as the One whereunto should return -whatsoever must return unto Thee, -and as the Revealer of whatsoever may be -manifested by Thee. -Do Thou also bless such of His Letters as have not -turned away from Thee, -who have been firmly established in Thy love, -and -clung steadfastly to Thy good-pleasure. -Bless Thou, -likewise, -as long as -Thine own Self endureth and Thine own Essence doth last, -them that have -suffered martyrdom in Thy path. -Thou art, -verily, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the -Most Merciful. - - -Moreover, -I beseech Thee, -O my God, -by Him Whom Thou hast announced unto -us in all Thy Tablets and Thy Books and Thy Scrolls and Thy Scriptures, - -through Whom the kingdom of names hath been convulsed, -and all that lay -hid in the breasts of them that have followed their evil and corrupt -desires hath been revealed, ---I beseech Thee to strengthen us in our love -for Him, -to make us steadfast in His Cause, -to help us befriend His loved -ones and challenge His enemies. -Shield us, -then, -O my God, -from the -mischief wrought by them that have denied Thy presence, -and turned away -from Thy face, -and resolved to put an end to the life of Him Who is the -Manifestation of Thine own Self. - - -O my God and my Master! -Thou knowest how they have disgraced Thy Cause and -dishonored Thee among Thy creatures, -how they have joined Thine enemies, - -that they may undermine Thy Revelation and injure Thee. -Lay hold on them -with the power of Thy wrath and might, -O my God, -and expose their shameful -acts and their wickedness, -that whatever is hid in their breasts may be -revealed unto the people that dwell within Thy land, -O Thou Who art the -Inflictor of trials, -the Fashioner of nations, -and the Bestower of favors! - -No God is there beside Thee, -the All-Glorious, -the Most Bountiful. - - - - - - - -Praised be Thou, -O Lord my God! -The tongues of all created things testify -to Thy sovereignty and Thine omnipotence, -and proclaim mine own poverty -and my wretchedness when face to face with the revelations of Thy wealth. - -Look, -then, -O my God, -upon this sinner whose gaze hath, -at all times, -been -fixed upon the source of Thy forgiveness, -and whose eyes have been bent -upon the horizon of Thy grace and Thy gifts. - - -Ever since the day Thou didst create me at Thy bidding, -O my God, -and -didst arouse me through the gentle winds of Thy tender mercies, -I have -refused to turn to any one except Thee, -and have, -through the power of Thy -sovereignty and Thy might, -arisen to face Thine enemies, -and have summoned -all mankind unto the shores of the ocean of Thy oneness and the heaven of -Thine all-glorious unity. -I have sought, -all my days, -not to guard myself -from the mischief of the rebellious among Thy creatures, -but rather to -exalt Thy name amidst Thy people. -I have, -thereby, -suffered what none of -Thy creatures hath suffered. - - -How many the days, -O my God, -which I have spent in utter loneliness with -the transgressors amongst Thy servants, -and how many the nights, -O my -Best-Beloved, -during which I lay a captive in the hands of the wayward -amidst Thy creatures! -In the midst of my troubles and tribulations I have -continued to celebrate Thy praise before all who are in Thy heaven and on -Thy earth, -and have not ceased to extol Thy wondrous glory in the kingdoms -of Thy Revelation and of Thy creation, -though all that I have been capable -of showing forth hath fallen short of the greatness and the majesty of Thy -oneness, -and is unworthy of Thine exaltation and of Thine omnipotence. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Thou Who art the one alone Beloved! -I find myself -to be only nothing before the habitation of Thy great glory. -Every time I -attempt to extol any one of Thy virtues, -my heart restraineth me, -for -naught but Thee is able to soar into the atmosphere of the kingdom of Thy -nearness, -or reach up to the heaven of Thy presence. - - -Thy might beareth me witness! -I am well aware that were I to bow myself -before a handful of dust, -from now until the end that hath no end, -in -acknowledgment of its relationship to Thy name, -the Fashioner, -I would -still find myself far removed from that dust, -and incapable of approaching -it, -and would discover that such an adoration can in no wise befit it, -nor -transcend the limitations to which I myself have been subjected. -And were -I to arise to serve one of Thy servants, -and to wait at his door so long -as Thine own kingdom endureth and Thine omnipotence will last, -as a sign -of my acknowledgment of the tie that bindeth him to Thy name, -the Creator, - -I would, -likewise, ---and to this Thy glory beareth me witness--have to -confess my complete failure to do him adequate service, -and my deprivation -of what can truly befit his station. -And this for the reason that I -recognize in them naught else except the bond that bindeth them to Thy -names and Thine attributes. -How can, -then, -such a man succeed in -befittingly extolling the One through a motion of Whose finger all the -names and their kingdom were called into being, -and all the attributes and -their dominion were created, -and Who, -through yet another motion of that -same finger, -hath united the letters B and E (Be) and knit them together, - -manifesting thereby what the highest thoughts of Thy chosen ones who enjoy -near access to Thee are unable to grasp, -and what the profoundest wisdom -of those of Thy loved ones that are wholly devoted to Thee are powerless -to fathom. - - -I swear by Thy glory, -O Beloved of my soul! -I am bewildered when I -contemplate the tokens of Thy handiwork, -and the evidences of Thy might, - -and find myself completely unable to unravel the mystery of the least of -Thy signs, -how much more to apprehend Thine own Self. -I beseech Thee, - -therefore, -O my God, -by Thy Name through which Thou hast caused all such -as love Thee to soar in the atmosphere of Thy will, -and hast guided all -them that yearn after Thee into the Paradise of Thy nearness and Thy -presence, -to waft from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness the fragrance of -certainty upon the needy among Thy loved ones, -in these days when the -tempests of trials have compassed them on every side, -and so grievously -assailed them that the souls of men have been troubled and the foundations -of all beings have trembled at what hath been sent down unto them from the -heaven of Thine irrevocable Purpose. -They were so shaken that the lamp of -their love for Thee and of their remembrance of Thee was ready to be -extinguished in the recess of their hearts. -Powerful art Thou to do what -pleaseth Thee. -Thou, -in truth, -art the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Generous. - - -Thou givest ear, -O my God and my Master, -to the sighing of them that are -dear to Thee, -and hearest from all sides their cry, -by reason of what hath -befallen them at the hands of those whose hearts have been deprived of the -sweet savors of Thy love. -There is none either to befriend or to succor -them, -nor can anything deter their enemies from harming them. - -Unrestrained, -they do what they wish, -and deal with them as they please. - - -Give, -therefore, -O my Lord, -the wonders of Thine aid to Thy loved ones, - -who have sought no helper except Thee, -and have turned to none save -Thyself, -and whose eyes have expectantly awaited to behold the wonders of -Thy favors and Thy gifts. -Have pity, -then, -upon them, -O my God, -through -the incomparable tokens of Thy mercy, -and shelter them within the -stronghold of Thy protection and Thy loving-kindness. -Thou art the One, -O -my Lord, -Who from everlasting hath been the Refuge of the fearful, -and the -Haven of the needy. -Withhold not, -I beseech Thee, -from these feeble -creatures the matchless tokens of Thy bounteousness and generosity, -and -leave them not to the mercy of them whose essence hath been solely created -of the fire of Thy wrath and of Thine anger, -and who have never discovered -the fragrance of compassion and equity, -and who have been so deluded by -the deceitfulness of the world that they have denied Thy proof, -and joined -partners with Thee, -and repudiated Thy signs, -and shed the blood of those -who are dear to Thee, -and have been trusted by Thee. -I swear by Thy might, - -O my Beloved! -They have committed what no man before them hath committed, - -and have thereby deserved Thy wrath and the scourge of Thine anger. -Lay -hold on them by the power of Thy sovereignty, -and set over them such as -will have no mercy upon them, -unless they return unto Thee, -and enter -beneath the shadow of Thy loving-kindness, -and are forgiven by Thee. -Thou -hast from everlasting been supreme over all things, -and wilt unto -everlasting remain the same. -Thou, -truly, -art the Almighty, -the Most -Exalted, -the Equitable, -the All-Wise. - - -Glorified art Thou, -O Lord my God! -Look Thou upon this wronged one, -who -hath been sorely afflicted by the oppressors among Thy creatures and the -infidels among Thine enemies, -though he himself hath refused to breathe a -single breath but by Thy leave and at Thy bidding. -I lay asleep on my -couch, -O my God, -when lo, -the gentle winds of Thy grace and Thy -loving-kindness passed over me, -and wakened me through the power of Thy -sovereignty and Thy gifts, -and bade me arise before Thy servants, -and -speak forth Thy praise, -and glorify Thy word. -Thereupon most of Thy people -reviled me. -I swear by Thy glory, -O my God! -I never thought that they -would show forth such deeds, -aware as I am that Thou hast Thyself -announced this Revelation unto them in the Scrolls of Thy commandment and -the Tablets of Thy decree, -and hast covenanted with them concerning this -youth in every word sent down by Thee unto Thy creatures and Thy people. - - -I am bewildered, -therefore, -O my God, -and know not how to act toward them. - -Every time I hold my peace, -and cease to extol Thy wondrous virtues, -Thy -Spirit impelleth me to cry out before all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy -earth; -and every time I am still, -the breaths wafted from the right hand -of Thy will and purpose pass over me, -and stir me up, -and I find myself to -be as a leaf which lieth at the mercy of the winds of Thy decree, -and is -carried away whithersoever Thou dost permit or command it. -Every man of -insight who considereth what hath been revealed by me, -will be persuaded -that Thy Cause is not in my hands, -but in Thy hands, -and will recognize -that the reins of power are held not in my grasp but in Thy grasp, -and are -subject to Thy sovereign might. -And yet, -Thou seest, -O my God, -how the -inhabitants of Thy realm have arrayed themselves against me, -and inflict -upon me every moment of my life what causeth the realities of Thy chosen -ones and trusted ones to tremble. - - -I entreat Thee, -therefore, -O my God, -by Thy Name through which Thou hast -guided Thy lovers to the living waters of Thy grace and Thy favors, -and -attracted them that long for Thee to the Paradise of Thy nearness and Thy -presence, -to open the eyes of Thy people that they may recognize in this -Revelation the manifestation of Thy transcendent unity, -and the dawning of -the lights of Thy countenance and Thy beauty. -Cleanse them, -then, -O my -God, -from all idle fancies and vain imaginations, -that they may inhale the -fragrances of sanctity from the robe of Thy Revelation and Thy -commandment, -that haply they may cease to inflict upon me what will -deprive their souls of the fragrances of the manifold tokens of Thy mercy, - -that are wafted in the days of Him Who is the Manifestation of Thyself, - -and the Day-Spring of Thy Cause, -and that they may not perpetrate what -will call down Thy wrath and anger. - - -Thou well knowest, -O my God, -that I was regarded as one of the people of -the Bayán, -and consorted with them with love and fellowship, -and summoned -them to Thee in the daytime and in the night season, -through the wonders -of Thy Revelation and Thine inspiration, -and sustained at their hands what -the inmates of the cities of Thine invention are powerless to recount. -I -swear by Thy might, -O my Beloved! -Every morning I waken to find that I am -made a target for the darts of their envy, -and every night, -when I lie -down to rest, -I discover that I have fallen a victim to the spears of -their hate. -Though Thou hast made known unto me the secrets of their -hearts, -and hast set me above them, -I have refused to uncover their deeds, - -and have dealt patiently with them, -mindful of the time which Thou hast -fixed. -And when Thy promise came to pass, -and the set time was fulfilled, - -Thou didst lift, -to an imperceptible degree, -the veil of concealment, -and -lo, -all the inmates of the kingdoms of Thy Revelation and of Thy creation -shook and trembled, -except those who were created by Thee, -through the -fire of Thy love, -and the breath of Thine eagerness, -and the water of Thy -loving-kindness, -and the clay of Thy grace. -These are they who are -glorified by the Concourse on high and the denizens of the Cities of -eternity. - - -I give praise to Thee, -therefore, -O my God, -that Thou hast preserved them -that have acknowledged Thy unity, -and hast destroyed them that have joined -partners with Thee, -and hast divided the one from the other through yet -another word that hath proceeded out of the mouth of Thy will, -and flowed -down from the pen of Thy purpose. -Thereby have Thy servants, -who were -created through the word of Thy commandment, -and were begotten by Thy -will, -caviled at me, -and so fiercely opposed me that they repudiated Thee, - -and have rejected Thy signs, -and have risen up against Thee. - - -Thy glory beareth me witness, -O my Beloved! -My pen is powerless to -describe what their hands have wrought against Him Who is the -Manifestation of Thy Cause, -and the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, -and the -Dawning-Place of Thine inspiration. -For all this I give praise to Thee. -I -swear by Thy glory, -O my God! -My heart yearneth after the things ordained -by Thee in the heaven of Thy decree and the kingdom of Thine appointment. - -For whatsoever befalleth me in Thy path is the beloved of my soul and the -goal of my desire. -This, -verily, -is to be ascribed to naught except Thy -power and Thy might. - - -I am the one, -O my God, -who, -through the love I bear to Thee, -hath been -able to dispense with all who are in heaven and on earth. -Armed with this -love, -I am afraid of no one, -though all the peoples of the world unite to -hurt me. -Oh, -that my blood could, -this very moment, -be shed on the face of -the earth before Thee, -and Thou wouldst behold me in the condition in -which Thou didst behold such of Thy servants as have drawn nigh unto Thee, - -and those of Thy righteous creatures as have been chosen by Thee! - - -I give Thee thanks, -O my God, -that Thou hast decided through the power of -Thy decree, -and wilt continue to decide through Thine irrevocable -appointment and purpose. -I entreat Thee, -O my Beloved, -by Thy Name through -which Thou didst lift up the ensigns of Thy Cause, -and shed the splendors -of the light of Thy countenance, -to send down upon me and upon such of Thy -servants as are wholly devoted to Thee all the good Thou hast ordained in -Thy Tablets. -Establish us, -then, -upon the seats of truth in Thy presence, - -O Thou in Whose hands is the kingdom of all things! - - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the All-Glorious, -the Most Merciful. - - - - - - -The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, -and the glory -which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, -rest upon Thee, -O -Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, -and the King of Eternity, -and -the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth! -I testify that through -Thee the sovereignty of God and His dominion, -and the majesty of God and -His grandeur, -were revealed, -and the Day-Stars of ancient splendor have -shed their radiance in the heaven of Thine irrevocable decree, -and the -Beauty of the Unseen hath shone forth above the horizon of creation. -I -testify, -moreover, -that with but a movement of Thy Pen Thine injunction -"Be Thou" hath been enforced, -and God's hidden Secret hath been divulged, - -and all created things have been called into being, -and all the -Revelations have been sent down. - - -I bear witness, -moreover, -that through Thy beauty the beauty of the Adored -One hath been unveiled, -and through Thy face the face of the Desired One -hath shone forth, -and that through a word from Thee Thou hast decided -between all created things, -causing them who are devoted to Thee to ascend -unto the summit of glory, -and the infidels to fall into the lowest abyss. - - -I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, -and he who hath -attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God. -Great, - -therefore, -is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, -and in Thy -signs, -and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, -and hath been -honored with meeting Thee, -and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy -will, -and circled around Thee, -and stood before Thy throne. -Woe betide him -that hath transgressed against Thee, -and hath denied Thee, -and repudiated -Thy signs, -and gainsaid Thy sovereignty, -and risen up against Thee, -and -waxed proud before Thy face, -and hath disputed Thy testimonies, -and fled -from Thy rule and Thy dominion, -and been numbered with the infidels whose -names have been inscribed by the fingers of Thy behest upon Thy holy -Tablets. - - -Waft, -then, -unto me, -O my God and my Beloved, -from the right hand of Thy -mercy and Thy loving-kindness, -the holy breaths of Thy favors, -that they -may draw me away from myself and from the world unto the courts of Thy -nearness and Thy presence. -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou, - -truly, -hast been supreme over all things. - - -The remembrance of God and His praise, -and the glory of God and His -splendor, -rest upon Thee, -O Thou Who art His Beauty! -I bear witness that -the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee. -Thou wast -immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations. -At one -time Thou wast in chains and fetters; -at another Thou wast threatened by -the sword of Thine enemies. -Yet, -despite all this, -Thou didst enjoin upon -all men to observe what had been prescribed unto Thee by Him Who is the -All-Knowing, -the All-Wise. - - -May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer, -and my soul -be a ransom for the adversities Thou didst sustain. -I beseech God, -by Thee -and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the -light of Thy countenance, -and who, -for love of Thee, -have observed all -whereunto they were bidden, -to remove the veils that have come in between -Thee and Thy creatures, -and to supply me with the good of this world and -the world to come. -Thou art, -in truth, -the Almighty, -the Most Exalted, -the -All-Glorious, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most Compassionate. - - -Bless Thou, -O Lord my God, -the Divine Lote-Tree and its leaves, -and its -boughs, -and its branches, -and its stems, -and its offshoots, -as long as Thy -most excellent titles will endure and Thy most august attributes will -last. -Protect it, -then, -from the mischief of the aggressor and the hosts -of tyranny. -Thou art, -in truth, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. -Bless -Thou, -also, -O Lord my God, -Thy servants and Thy handmaidens who have -attained unto Thee. -Thou, -truly, -art the All-Bountiful, -Whose grace is -infinite. -No God is there save Thee, -the Ever-Forgiving, -the Most -Generous. - - - - - - - - -I bear witness, -O my God, -that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to -worship Thee. -I testify, -at this moment, -to my powerlessness and to Thy -might, -to my poverty and to Thy wealth. - - -There is none other God but Thee, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - - - - - - -Strengthen my hand, -O my God, -that it may take hold of Thy Book with such -steadfastness that the hosts of the world shall have no power over it. - -Guard it, -then, -from meddling with whatsoever doth not belong unto it. - -Thou art, -verily, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful. - - - - - - -I have turned my face unto Thee, -O my Lord! -Illumine it with the light of -Thy countenance. -Protect it, -then, -from turning to anyone but Thee. - - - - -God testifieth that there is none other God but Him. -His are the kingdoms -of Revelation and of creation. -He, -in truth, -hath manifested Him Who is -the Day-Spring of Revelation, -Who conversed on Sinai, -through Whom the -Supreme Horizon hath been made to shine, -and the Lote-Tree beyond which -there is no passing hath spoken, -and through Whom the call hath been -proclaimed unto all who are in heaven and on earth: -"Lo, -the -All-Possessing is come. -Earth and heaven, -glory and dominion are God's, - -the Lord of all men, -and the Possessor of the Throne on high and of earth -below! -" - - - -Exalted art Thou above my praise and the praise of anyone beside me, -above -my description and the description of all who are in heaven and all who -are on earth! - - - - -Disappoint not, -O my God, -him that hath, -with beseeching fingers, -clung to -the hem of Thy mercy and Thy grace, -O Thou Who of those who show mercy art -the Most Merciful! - - - - -I bear witness to Thy unity and Thy oneness, -and that Thou art God, -and -that there is none other God beside Thee. -Thou hast, -verily, -revealed Thy -Cause, -fulfilled Thy Covenant, -and opened wide the door of Thy grace to -all that dwell in heaven and on earth. -Blessing and peace, -salutation and -glory, -rest upon Thy loved ones, -whom the changes and chances of the world -have not deterred from turning unto Thee, -and who have given their all, -in -the hope of obtaining that which is with Thee. -Thou art, -in truth, -the -Ever-Forgiving, -the All-Bountiful. - - - - - -I bear witness to Thy unity and Thy oneness, -and that Thou art - God, -and that there is none other God beside Thee. - - - - -Whoso wisheth to recite this prayer, -let him stand up and turn - unto God, -and, -as he standeth in his place, -let him gaze to the - right and to the left, -as if awaiting the mercy of his Lord, -the - Most Merciful, -the Compassionate. -Then let him say: - - - -O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and the Maker of the heavens! -I -beseech Thee by them Who are the Day-Springs of Thine invisible Essence, - -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious, -to make of my prayer a fire that will -burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, -and a light -that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence. - - - - - -O Thou the Desire of the world and the Beloved of the nations! -Thou seest -me turning toward Thee, -and rid of all attachment to anyone save Thee, -and -clinging to Thy cord, -through whose movement the whole creation hath been -stirred up. -I am Thy servant, -O my Lord, -and the son of Thy servant. - -Behold me standing ready to do Thy will and Thy desire, -and wishing naught -else except Thy good pleasure. -I implore Thee by the Ocean of Thy mercy -and the Day-Star of Thy grace to do with Thy servant as Thou willest and -pleasest. -By Thy might which is far above all mention and praise! - -Whatsoever is revealed by Thee is the desire of my heart and the beloved -of my soul. -O God, -my God! -Look not upon my hopes and my doings, -nay -rather look upon Thy will that hath encompassed the heavens and the earth. - -By Thy Most Great Name, -O Thou Lord of all nations! -I have desired only -what Thou didst desire, -and love only what Thou dost love. - - - - -Exalted art Thou above the description of anyone save Thyself, -and the -comprehension of aught else except Thee. - - - - - -Make my prayer, -O my Lord, -a fountain of living waters whereby I may live -as long as Thy sovereignty endureth, -and may make mention of Thee in every -world of Thy worlds. - - - - -O Thou in separation from Whom hearts and souls have melted, -and by the -fire of Whose love the whole world hath been set aflame! -I implore Thee by -Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued the whole creation, -not to -withhold from me that which is with Thee, -O Thou Who rulest over all men! - -Thou seest, -O my Lord, -this stranger hastening to his most exalted home -beneath the canopy of Thy majesty and within the precincts of Thy mercy; - -and this transgressor seeking the ocean of Thy forgiveness; -and this lowly -one the court of Thy glory; -and this poor creature the orient of Thy -wealth. -Thine is the authority to command whatsoever Thou willest. -I bear -witness that Thou art to be praised in Thy doings, -and to be obeyed in Thy -behests, -and to remain unconstrained in Thy bidding. - - - - -Thou seest, -O my God, -how my spirit hath been stirred up within my limbs -and members, -in its longing to worship Thee, -and in its yearning to -remember Thee and extol Thee; -how it testifieth to that whereunto the -Tongue of Thy Commandment hath testified in the kingdom of Thine utterance -and the heaven of Thy knowledge. -I love, -in this state, -O my Lord, -to beg -of Thee all that is with Thee, -that I may demonstrate my poverty, -and -magnify Thy bounty and Thy riches, -and may declare my powerlessness, -and -manifest Thy power and Thy might. - - - - - -There is no God but Thee, -the Almighty, -the All-Bountiful. - - -There is no God but Thee, -the Ordainer, -both in the beginning and in the -end. -O God, -my God! -Thy forgiveness hath emboldened me, -and Thy mercy hath -strengthened me, -and Thy call hath awakened me, -and Thy grace hath raised -me up and led me unto Thee. -Who, -otherwise, -am I that I should dare to -stand at the gate of the city of Thy nearness, -or set my face toward the -lights that are shining from the heaven of Thy will? -Thou seest, -O my -Lord, -this wretched creature knocking at the door of Thy grace, -and this -evanescent soul seeking the river of everlasting life from the hands of -Thy bounty. -Thine is the command at all times, -O Thou Who art the Lord of -all names; -and mine is resignation and willing submission to Thy will, -O -Creator of the heavens! - - - - -Greater is God than every great one! - - - - - -Too high art Thou for the praise of those who are nigh unto Thee to ascend -unto the heaven of Thy nearness, -or for the birds of the hearts of them -who are devoted to Thee to attain to the door of Thy gate. -I testify that -Thou hast been sanctified above all attributes and holy above all names. - -No God is there but Thee, -the Most Exalted, -the All-Glorious. - - - - -I testify unto that whereunto have testified all created things, -and the -Concourse on high, -and the inmates of the all-highest Paradise, -and beyond -them the Tongue of Grandeur itself from the all-glorious Horizon, -that -Thou art God, -that there is no God but Thee, -and that He Who hath been -manifested is the Hidden Mystery, -the Treasured Symbol, -through Whom the -letters B and E (Be) have been joined and knit together. -I testify that it -is He Whose name hath been set down by the Pen of the Most High, -and Who -hath been mentioned in the Books of God, -the Lord of the Throne on high -and of earth below. - - - - - -O Lord of all being and Possessor of all things visible and invisible! - -Thou dost perceive my tears and the sighs I utter, -and hearest my -groaning, -and my wailing, -and the lamentation of my heart. -By Thy might! - -My trespasses have kept me back from drawing nigh unto Thee; -and my sins -have held me far from the court of Thy holiness. -Thy love, -O my Lord, -hath -enriched me, -and separation from Thee hath destroyed me, -and remoteness -from Thee hath consumed me. -I entreat Thee by Thy footsteps in this -wilderness, -and by the words "Here am I. -Here am I. -" which Thy chosen Ones -have uttered in this immensity, -and by the breaths of Thy Revelation, -and -the gentle winds of the Dawn of Thy Manifestation, -to ordain that I may -gaze on Thy beauty and observe whatsoever is in Thy Book. - - - - -Praise be to Thee, -O my God, -that Thou hast aided me to remember Thee and -to praise Thee, -and hast made known unto me Him Who is the Day-Spring of -Thy signs, -and hast caused me to bow down before Thy Lordship, -and humble -myself before Thy Godhead, -and to acknowledge that which hath been uttered -by the Tongue of Thy grandeur. - - - - - -O God, -my God! -My back is bowed by the burden of my sins, -and my -heedlessness hath destroyed me. -Whenever I ponder my evil doings and Thy -benevolence, -my heart melteth within me, -and my blood boileth in my veins. - -By Thy Beauty, -O Thou the Desire of the world! -I blush to lift up my face -to Thee, -and my longing hands are ashamed to stretch forth toward the -heaven of Thy bounty. -Thou seest, -O my God, -how my tears prevent me from -remembering Thee and from extolling Thy virtues, -O Thou the Lord of the -Throne on high and of earth below! -I implore Thee by the signs of Thy -Kingdom and the mysteries of Thy Dominion to do with Thy loved ones as -becometh Thy bounty, -O Lord of all being, -and is worthy of Thy grace, -O -King of the seen and the unseen! - - - - -Praise be unto Thee, -O our God, -that Thou hast sent down unto us that -which draweth us nigh unto Thee, -and supplieth us with every good thing -sent down by Thee in Thy Books and Thy Scriptures. -Protect us, -we beseech -Thee, -O my Lord, -from the hosts of idle fancies and vain imaginations. - -Thou, -in truth, -art the Mighty, -the All-Knowing. - - - - -I testify, -O my God, -to that whereunto Thy chosen Ones have testified, -and -acknowledge that which the inmates of the all-highest Paradise and those -who have circled round Thy mighty Throne have acknowledged. -The kingdoms -of earth and heaven are Thine, -O Lord of the worlds! - - - - - - -Since Thou hast, -O my God, -established Thyself upon the throne of Thy -transcendent unity, -and ascended the mercy seat of Thy oneness, -it -befitteth Thee to blot out from the hearts of all beings whatsoever may -keep them back from gaining admittance into the sanctuary of Thy Divine -mysteries, -and may shut them out from the tabernacle of Thy Divinity, -that -all hearts may mirror Thy beauty, -and may reveal Thee, -and speak of Thee, - -and that all created things may show forth the tokens of Thy most august -sovereignty, -and shed the splendors of the light of Thy most holy -governance, -and that all who are in heaven and on earth may laud and -magnify Thy unity, -and give Thee glory, -for having manifested Thy Self -unto them through Him Who is the Revealer of Thy oneness. - - -Divest, -then, -Thy servants, -O my God, -of the garments of self and desire, - -or grant that the eyes of Thy people may be lifted up to such heights that -they will discern in their desires naught except the stirring of the -gentle winds of Thine eternal glory, -and may recognize in their own selves -nothing but the revelation of Thine own merciful Self, -that the earth and -all that is therein may be cleansed of whatever is alien to Thee, -or -anything that manifesteth aught save Thy Self. -All this can be fulfilled -throughout Thy dominion by Thy word of command, -"Be, -" and it is! -Nay, -even -swifter than this, -and yet the people understand not. - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou, -O my Beloved! -I swear by Thy -glory! -I recognize this very moment that Thou hast granted all for which I -have supplicated Thee, -in this blessed night which, -as decreed by Thee, - -calleth to remembrance Him Who was the Companion of Thy beauty and the -Beholder of Thy face, -ere I had been mentioned by Thee, -or called into -being within the court of Thy holiness. -I perceive that Thou hast made all -things to be the manifestations of Thy behest, -and the revelations of Thy -handiwork, -and the repositories of Thy knowledge, -and the treasuries of -Thy wisdom. -I recognize, -moreover, -that were any of the revelations of Thy -names and Thine attributes to be withheld, -though it be the weight of a -grain of mustard seed, -from whatsoever hath been created by Thy power and -begotten by Thy might, -the foundations of Thine everlasting handiwork -would thereby be made incomplete, -and the gems of Thy Divine wisdom would -become imperfect. -For the letters of negation, -no matter how far they may -be removed from the holy fragrances of Thy knowledge, -and however -forgetful they may become of the wondrous splendors of the dawning light -of Thy beauty, -which are shed from the heaven of Thy majesty, -must needs -exist in Thy realm, -so that the words which affirm Thee may thereby be -exalted. - - -Thy might beareth me witness, -O my Well-Beloved! -The entire creation hath -been called into being to exalt Thy triumph and to establish Thine -ascendancy, -and all the bounds that have been set by Thee are but the -signs of Thy sovereignty, -and proclaim the power of Thy might. -How great, - -how very great, -are the revelations of Thy wondrous power in all things! - -They are such that the lowliest among Thy creatures hath been made by Thee -a manifestation of Thy most august attribute, -and the most contemptible -token of Thy handiwork hath been chosen as a recipient of Thy most mighty -name. -Poverty, -as decreed by Thee, -hath been made the means for the -revelation of Thy riches, -and abasement a path leading to Thy glory, -and -sinfulness a cause for the exercise of Thy forgiveness. -By them Thou hast -demonstrated that to Thee belong Thy most excellent titles, -and unto Thee -pertain the wonders of Thy most exalted attributes. - - -Since Thou hast purposed, -O my God, -to cause all created things to enter -into the tabernacle of Thy transcendent grace and favor, -and to waft over -the entire creation the fragrances of the raiment of Thy glorious unity, - -and to look upon all things with the eyes of Thy bounty and Thy oneness, -I -beseech Thee, -therefore, -by Thy love, -which Thou hast made to be the -mainspring of the revelations of Thine eternal holiness, -and the flame -that gloweth within the hearts of such of Thy creatures as yearn towards -Thee, -to create, -this very moment, -for those of Thy people who are wholly -devoted to Thee, -and for such of Thy loved ones as love Thee, -out of the -essence of Thy bounty and Thy generosity, -and from the inmost spirit of -Thy grace and Thy glory, -Thy Paradise of transcendent holiness, -and to -exalt it above everything except Thee, -and to sanctify it from aught else -save Thyself. -Create, -moreover, -within it, -O my God, -out of the lights -shed by Thy throne, -handmaidens who will intone the melodies of Thy -wondrous and most sweet invention, -that they may magnify Thy name with -such words as have not been heard by any of Thy creatures, -be they the -inmates of Thy heaven or the dwellers of Thine earth, -nor been -comprehended by any of Thy people. -Unlock, -then, -the gates of this -Paradise to the faces of Thy loved ones, -that haply they may enter them in -Thy name, -and by the power of Thy sovereignty, -that thereby the sovereign -bounties vouchsafed by Thee unto Thy chosen ones and the transcendent -gifts granted unto Thy trusted ones be perfected, -that they may extol Thy -virtues with such melodies as none can either intone or describe, -and that -none of Thy people may conceive the design of appearing in the guise of -any of Thy chosen ones, -or of emulating the example of Thy loved ones, -and -that none may fail to discern between Thy friends and Thine enemies, -or to -distinguish them that are devoted to Thee from such as stubbornly oppose -Thee. -Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, -and powerful and supreme -art Thou over all things. - - -Exalted, -immeasurably exalted art Thou, -O my Beloved, -above the strivings -of any of Thy creatures, -however learned, -to know Thee; -exalted, -immensely -exalted art Thou above every human attempt, -no matter how searching, -to -describe Thee! -For the highest thought of men, -however deep their -contemplation, -can never hope to outsoar the limitations imposed upon Thy -creation, -nor ascend beyond the state of the contingent world, -nor break -the bounds irrevocably set for it by Thee. -How can, -then, -a thing that -hath been created by Thy will that overruleth the whole of creation, -a -thing that is itself a part of the contingent world, -have the power to -soar into the holy atmosphere of Thy knowledge, -or reach unto the seat of -Thy transcendent power? - - -High, -immeasurably high art Thou above the endeavors of the evanescent -creature to soar unto the throne of Thine eternity, -or of the poor and -wretched to attain the summit of Thine all-sufficing glory! -From eternity -Thou didst Thyself describe Thine own Self unto Thy Self, -and extol, -in -Thine own Essence, -Thine Essence unto Thine Essence. -I swear by Thy glory, - -O my Best-Beloved! -Who is there besides Thee that can claim to know Thee, - -and who save Thyself can make fitting mention of Thee? -Thou art He Who, - -from eternity, -abode in His realm, -in the glory of His transcendent unity, - -and the splendors of His holy grandeur. -Were any one except Thee to be -deemed worthy of mention, -in all the kingdoms of Thy creation, -from the -highest realms of immortality down to the level of this nether world, -how -could it, -then, -be demonstrated that Thou art established upon the throne -of Thy unity, -and how could the wondrous virtues of Thy oneness and Thy -singleness be glorified? - - -I bear witness, -this very moment, -to what Thou hast testified for Thine -own Self, -ere Thou hadst created the heavens and the earth, -that Thou art -God, -and that there is none other God besides Thee. -Thou hast from -everlasting been potent, -through the Manifestations of Thy might, -to -reveal the signs of Thy power, -and Thou hast ever made known, -through the -Day-Springs of Thy knowledge, -the words of Thy wisdom. -No one besides Thee -hath ever been found worthy to be mentioned before the Tabernacle of Thy -unity, -and none except Thyself hath proved himself capable of being -praised within the hallowed court of Thy oneness. - - -Praise be to Thee, -O my God, -that Thou hast revealed Thy favors and Thy -bounties; -and glory be to Thee, -O my Beloved, -that Thou hast manifested -the Day-Star of Thy loving-kindness and Thy tender mercies. -I yield Thee -such thanks as can direct the steps of the wayward towards the splendors -of the morning light of Thy guidance, -and enable those who yearn towards -Thee to attain the seat of the revelation of the effulgence of Thy beauty. - -I yield Thee such thanks as can cause the sick to draw nigh unto the -waters of Thy healing, -and can help those who are far from Thee to -approach the living fountain of Thy presence. -I yield Thee such thanks as -can divest the bodies of Thy servants of the garments of mortality and -abasement, -and attire them in the robes of Thine eternity and Thy glory, - -and lead the poor unto the shores of Thy holiness and all sufficient -riches. -I yield Thee such thanks as can enable the Heavenly Dove to warble -forth, -upon the branches of the Lote-Tree of Immortality, -her song: - -"Verily, -Thou art God. -No God is there besides Thee. -From eternity Thou -hast been exalted above the praise of aught else but Thee, -and been high -above the description of any one except Thyself. -" I yield Thee such thanks -as can cause the Nightingale of Glory to pour forth its melody in the -highest heaven: -"'Alí (the Báb), -in truth, -is Thy servant, -Whom Thou hast -singled out from among Thy Messengers and Thy chosen Ones, -and made Him to -be the Manifestation of Thyself in all that pertaineth unto Thee, -and that -concerneth the revelation of Thine attributes and the evidences of Thy -names. -" I yield Thee such thanks as can stir up all things to extol Thee, - -and to glorify Thine Essence, -and can unloose the tongues of all beings to -magnify the sovereignty of Thy beauty. -I yield Thee such thanks as can -fill the heavens and the earth with the signs of Thy transcendent Essence, - -and assist all created things to enter the Tabernacle of Thy nearness and -Thy presence. -I yield Thee such thanks as can make every created thing to -be a book that shall speak of Thee, -and a scroll that shall unfold Thy -praise. -I yield Thee such thanks as can establish the Manifestations of -Thy sovereignty upon the throne of Thy governance, -and set up the -Exponents of Thy glory upon the seat of Thy Divinity. -I yield Thee such -thanks as can make the corrupt tree to bring forth good fruit through the -holy breaths of Thy favors, -and revive the bodies of all beings with the -gentle winds of Thy transcendent grace. -I yield Thee such thanks as can -cause the signs of Thine exalted singleness to be sent down out of the -heaven of Thy holy unity. -I yield Thee such thanks as can teach all things -the realities of Thy knowledge and the essence of Thy wisdom, -and will not -withhold the wretched creatures from the doors of Thy mercy and Thy -bountiful favor. -I yield Thee such thanks as can enable all who are in -heaven and on earth to dispense with all created things, -through the -treasuries of Thine all-sufficing riches, -and can aid all created things -to reach unto the summit of Thine almighty favors. -I yield Thee such -thanks as can assist the hearts of Thine ardent lovers to soar into the -atmosphere of nearness to Thee, -and of longing for Thee, -and kindle the -Light of Lights within the land of 'Iráq. -I yield Thee such thanks as can -detach them that are nigh unto Thee from all created things, -and draw them -to the throne of Thy names and Thine attributes. -I yield Thee such thanks -as can cause Thee to forgive all sins and trespasses, -and to fulfill the -needs of the peoples of all religions, -and to waft the fragrances of -pardon over the entire creation. -I yield Thee such thanks as can enable -them that recognize Thy unity to scale the heights of Thy love, -and cause -such as are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the Paradise of Thy presence. -I -yield Thee such thanks as can satisfy the wants of all such as seek Thee, - -and realize the aims of them that have recognized Thee. -I yield Thee such -thanks as can blot out from the hearts of men all suggestions of -limitations, -and inscribe the signs of Thy unity. -I yield Thee such thanks -as that with which Thou didst from eternity glorify Thine own Self, -and -didst exalt it above all peers, -rivals, -and comparisons, -O Thou in Whose -hands are the heavens of grace and of bounty, -and the kingdoms of glory -and of majesty! - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Lord my God, -and my Master! -Thou bearest witness, - -and seest, -and knowest the things that have befallen Thy loved ones in Thy -days, -and the continual trials, -and the successive tribulations, -and the -incessant afflictions, -which have been sent down upon Thine elect. -Such -hath been their plight that the earth became too strait for them, -and they -were encompassed by the evidences of Thy wrath and the signs of Thy fear -in every land, -and the doors of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness were -shut against them, -and the garden of their hearts was deprived of the -overflowing showers of Thy grace and Thy bountiful favors. -Wilt Thou -withhold, -O my God, -from such as love Thee the wonders of Thine ascendancy -and triumph? -Wilt Thou shatter, -O my Beloved, -the hopes which they who are -devoted to Thee have fixed on Thy manifold bounties and gifts? -Wilt Thou -keep back, -O my Master, -those that have recognized Thee from the shores of -Thy sanctified knowledge, -or wilt Thou cease to rain down upon the hearts -of such as desire Thee the showers of Thy transcendent grace? -No, -no, -and -to this Thy glory beareth me witness! -I testify this very moment that Thy -mercy hath surpassed all created things, -and Thy loving-kindness -encompassed all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. -From -everlasting the doors of Thy generosity were open to the faces of Thy -servants, -and the gentle winds of Thy grace were wafted over the hearts of -Thy creatures, -and the overflowing rains of Thy bounty were showered upon -Thy people and the dwellers of Thy realm. - - -I know full well Thou hast delayed to manifest Thy triumph in the kingdom -of creation by reason of Thy knowledge which embraceth both the mysteries -of Thy decree, -and the hidden things ordained behind the veils of Thine -irrevocable purpose, -that thereby those who have entered beneath the -shadow of Thy transcendent mercy may be separated from those who have -dealt disdainfully with Thee, -and turned back from Thy presence at the -time when Thou didst manifest Thy most exalted Beauty. - - -Exalted, -immeasurably exalted art Thou, -therefore, -O my Beloved! -Forasmuch -as Thou hast divided, -in Thy realm, -Thy loved ones from Thine enemies, -and -hast perfected Thy most weighty testimony and Thy most infallible Proof -unto all who are in heaven and on earth, -have mercy, -then, -upon those who -were brought low in Thy land, -by reason of what hath befallen them in Thy -path. -Exalt them, -then, -O my God, -through the power of Thy might and the -potency of Thy will, -and raise them up to proclaim Thy Cause through Thine -omnipotent sovereignty and purpose. - - -I swear by Thy glory! -My sole purpose in showing forth Thine ascendancy -hath been to glorify Thy Cause, -and to magnify Thy word. -I am persuaded -that if Thou wert to delay to send down Thy victory and to demonstrate Thy -power, -the signs of Thy sovereignty would assuredly perish in Thy land, - -and the tokens of Thy rule would be blotted out throughout Thy dominion. - - -My breast is straitened, -O my God, -and sorrows and vexations have -compassed me round, -for I hear among Thy servants every praise except Thy -wondrous praise, -and behold amidst Thy people the evidences of all things -save the evidences of what Thou hast prescribed unto them by Thy behest, - -and destined for them through Thy sovereign will, -and ordained unto them -by Thine overruling decree. -They have strayed so far from Thee that should -any of Thy loved ones deliver unto them the wondrous tokens of Thy unity, - -and the gem-like utterances that attest Thy transcendent oneness, -they -would thrust their fingers into their ears, -and would cavil at him and -mock him. -All this hast Thou set down through Thine all-encompassing -sovereignty, -and apprehended through Thine omnipotent supremacy. - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou, -O my Master! -Look, -then, -upon -the hearts which, -in their love for Thee, -have been transfixed by the -darts of Thine enemies, -and the heads which were borne on spears for the -sake of the exaltation of Thy Cause and the glorification of Thy name. - -Have pity, -then, -upon those hearts which have been consumed by the fire of -Thy love, -and been touched by such tribulations as are known only unto -Thee. - - -All laud and honor to Thee, -O my God! -Thou well knowest the things which, - -for a score of years, -have happened in Thy days, -and have continued to -happen until this hour. -No man can reckon, -nor can any tongue tell, -what -hath befallen Thy chosen ones during all this time. -They could obtain no -shelter, -nor find any refuge in which they could abide in safety. -Turn, - -then, -O my God, -their fear into the evidences of Thy peace and Thy -security, -and their abasement into the sovereignty of Thy glory, -and their -poverty into Thine all-sufficient riches, -and their distress into the -wonders of Thy perfect tranquillity. -Vouchsafe unto them the fragrances of -Thy might and Thy mercy, -and send down upon them, -out of Thy marvelous -loving-kindness, -what will enable them to dispense with all except Thee, - -and will detach them from aught save Thyself, -that the sovereignty of Thy -oneness may be revealed and the supremacy of Thy grace and Thy bounty -demonstrated. - - -Wilt Thou not, -O my God, -look upon the tears which Thy loved ones have -shed? -Wilt Thou not pity, -O my Beloved, -the eyes which have been dimmed by -reason of their separation from Thee, -and because of the cessation of the -signs of Thy victory? -Wilt Thou not behold, -O my Master, -the hearts -wherein have beaten the wings of the dove of longing and love for Thee? -By -Thy glory! -Things have come to such a pass that hope hath well nigh been -banished from the hearts of Thy chosen ones, -and the breaths of despair -are ready to seize them, -by reason of what hath befallen them in Thy days. - - -Behold me, -then, -O my God, -how I have fled from myself unto Thee, -and have -abandoned my own being that I may attain unto the splendors of the light -of Thy Being, -and have forsaken all that keepeth me back from Thee, -and -maketh me forgetful of Thee, -in order that I may inhale the fragrances of -Thy presence and Thy remembrance. -Behold how I have stepped upon the dust -of the city of Thy forgiveness and Thy bounty, -and dwelt within the -precincts of Thy transcendent mercy, -and have besought Thee, -through the -sovereignty of Him Who is Thy Remembrance and Who hath appeared in the -robe of Thy most pure and most august Beauty, -to send down, -in the course -of this year, -upon Thy loved ones what will enable them to dispense with -any one except Thee, -and will set them free to recognize the evidences of -Thy sovereign will and all-conquering purpose, -in such wise that they will -seek only what Thou didst wish for them through Thy bidding, -and will -desire naught except what Thou didst desire for them through Thy will. - -Sanctify, -then, -their eyes, -O my God, -that they may behold the light of -Thy Beauty, -and purge their ears, -that they may listen to the melodies of -the Dove of Thy transcendent oneness. -Flood, -then, -their hearts with the -wonders of Thy love, -and preserve their tongues from mentioning any one -save Thee, -and guard their faces from turning to aught else except -Thyself. -Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. -Thou, -verily, -art the -Almighty, -the Help in Peril, -the Self-Subsisting. - - -Protect, -moreover, -O my Beloved, -through Thy love for them and through the -love they bear to Thee, -this servant, -who hath sacrificed his all for -Thee, -and expended whatsoever Thou hast given him in the path of Thy love -and Thy good pleasure, -and preserve him from all that Thou abhorrest, -and -from whatsoever may hinder him from entering into the Tabernacle of Thy -holy sovereignty, -and from attaining the seat of Thy transcendent oneness. - -Number him, -then, -O my God, -with such as have allowed nothing whatever to -deter them from beholding Thy beauty, -or from meditating on the wondrous -evidences of Thine everlasting handiwork, -that he may have fellowship with -none except Thee, -and turn to naught save Thyself, -and discover in -whatever hath been created by Thee in the kingdoms of earth and heaven -nothing but Thy wondrous Beauty and the revelation of the splendors of Thy -face, -and be so immersed beneath the billowing oceans of Thine overruling -providence and the surging seas of Thy holy unity, -that he will forget -every mention except the mention of Thy transcendent oneness, -and banish -from his soul the traces of all evil suggestions, -O Thou in Whose hands -are the kingdoms of all names and attributes! - - -Lauded be Thy name, -O Thou Who art the Goal of my desire! -I swear by Thy -glory! -How great is my wish to attain unto a detachment so complete that -were there to appear before me those countenances which are hid within the -chambers of chastity, -and the beauty of which Thou didst veil from the -eyes of the entire creation, -and whose faces Thou didst sanctify from the -sight of all beings, -and were they to unveil themselves in all the glory -of the splendors of Thine incomparable beauty, -I would refuse to look upon -them, -and would behold them solely for the purpose of discerning the -mysteries of Thy handiwork, -which have perplexed the minds of such as have -drawn nigh unto Thee, -and awed the souls of all them that have recognized -Thee. -I would, -by Thy power and Thy might, -soar to such heights that -nothing whatsoever would have the power to keep me back from the manifold -evidences of Thy transcendent dominion, -nor would any earthly scheme shut -me out from the manifestations of Thy Divine holiness. - - -Glorified, -immeasurably glorified art Thou, -O my God, -and my Beloved, -and -my Master, -and my Desire! -Shatter not the hopes of this lowly one to -attain the shores of Thy glory, -and deprive not this wretched creature of -the immensities of Thy riches, -and cast not away this suppliant from the -doors of Thy grace, -and Thy bounty, -and Thy gifts. -Have mercy, -then, -upon -this poor and desolate soul who hath sought no friend but Thee, -and no -companion except Thee, -and no comforter save Thee, -and no beloved apart -from Thee, -nor cherished any desire but Thyself. - - -Cast, -then, -upon me, -O my God, -the glances of Thy mercy, -and forgive me my -trespasses and the trespasses of them that are dear to Thee, -and which -come in between us and the revelation of Thy triumph and Thy grace. -Cancel -Thou, -moreover, -our sins which have shut off our faces from the splendors -of the Day-Star of Thy favors. -Powerful art Thou to do Thy pleasure. -Thou -ordainest what Thou willest, -and art not asked of what Thou wishest -through the power of Thy sovereignty, -nor canst Thou be frustrated in -whatsoever Thou prescribest through Thine irrevocable decree. -No God is -there save Thee, -the Almighty, -the Most Powerful, -the Ever-living, -the -Most Compassionate. - 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