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Holy Kitab I Aqdas
Texts 1-19
Texts 20-38
Texts 39-57
Texts 58-76
Texts 77-95
Texts 96-114
Texts 115-133
Texts 134-152
Texts 153-171
Texts 172-190
Holy Kitab I Iqan
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Prayers & Meditations by Bahaullah
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12
Section 13
Section 14
Section 15
Section 16
Section 17
Section 18
Section 19
Section 20
Section 21
Section 22
Section 23
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Epistle to
the Son of the Wolf:
Section 9 |
After We were exiled and had
departed from Iraq to Constantinople, however, news of her
ceased to reach Us. Subsequent to Our separation in the Land of
Ta (Tihran), We ceased to meet Mirza Rida-Quli, Our brother, and
no special news reached Us concerning her. In the early days we
all lived in one house, which later on was sold at auction, for
a negligible sum, and the two brothers, Farman-Farma and
Hisamu's-Saltanih, purchased it and divided it between
themselves. After this occurred, We separated from Our brother.
He established his residence close to the entrance of
Masjid-i-Shah, whilst We lived near the Gate of Shimiran.
Thereafter, however, that sister displayed toward Us, for no
reason whatever, a hostile attitude. This Wronged One held His
peace under all conditions. However, Our late brother Mirza
Muhammad-Hasan's daughter-upon him be the glory of God and His
peace and His mercy --who had been betrothed to the Most Great
Branch (Abdu'l-Baha) was taken by the sister of this Wronged One
from Nur to her own house, and from there sent unto another
place. Some of Our companions and friends in various places
complained against this, as it was a very grievous act, and was
disapproved by all the loved ones of God. How strange that Our
sister should have taken her to her own house, and then arranged
for her to be sent elsewhere! In spite of this, this Wronged One
remained, and still remaineth, calm and silent. A word, however,
was said in order to tranquilize Our loved ones.
God testifieth and beareth Me witness that whatever hath been
said was the truth, and was spoken with sincerity. None of Our
loved ones, whether in these regions or in that country, could
believe Our sister capable of an act so contrary to decency,
affection and friendship. After such a thing had occurred, they,
recognizing that the way had been barred, conducted themselves
in a manner well-known unto thyself and others. It must be
evident, therefore, how intense was the grief which this act
inflicted upon this Wronged One. Later on, she threw in her lot
with Mirza Yahya. Conflicting reports concerning her are now
reaching Us, nor is it clear what she is saying or doing. We
beseech God-blessed and glorified be He-to cause her to turn
unto Him, and aid her to repent before the door of His grace.
He, verily, is the Mighty, the Forgiving; and He is, in truth,
the All-Powerful, the Pardoner.
In another connection He, likewise, saith: "Were He to appear
this very moment, I would be the first to adore Him, and the
first to bow down before Him." Be fair, O people! The purpose of
the Most Exalted One (the Bab) was to insure that the proximity
of the Revelation should not withhold men from the Divine and
everlasting Law, even as the companions of John (the Baptist)
were prevented from acknowledging Him Who is the Spirit (Jesus).
Time and again He hath said: "Suffer not the Bayan and all that
hath been revealed therein to withhold you from that Essence of
Being and Lord of the visible and invisible." Should any one,
considering this binding injunction, cling unto the Bayan, such
a one hath, verily, passed out of the shadow of the blessed and
exalted Tree. Be fair, O people, and be not of the heedless.
And likewise, He saith: "Let not names shut you out as by a veil
from Him Who is their Lord, even the name of Prophet, for such a
name is but a creation of His utterance." And likewise, He, in
the seventh chapter of the second Vahid, saith: "O people of the
Bayan! Act not as the people of the Qur'an have acted, for if ye
do so, the fruits of your night will come to naught." And
further, He saith-glorified be His mention: "If thou attainest
unto His Revelation, and obeyest Him, thou wilt have revealed
the fruit of the Bayan; if not, thou art unworthy of mention
before God. Take pity upon thyself. If thou aidest not Him Who
is the Manifestation of the Lordship of God, be not, then, a
cause of sadness unto Him." And further He saith-magnified be
His station: "If thou attainest not unto the Presence of God,
grieve not, then, the Sign of God. Ye will renounce that which
can profit them that acknowledge the Bayan, if ye renounce that
which can harm Him. I know, however, that ye will refuse to do
so."
O Hadi! Methinks it is by reason of these indubitable utterances
that thou hast determined to blot out the Bayan. Give ear unto
the voice of this Wronged One, and renounce this oppression that
hath made the pillars of the Bayan to tremble. I have been
neither in Chihriq nor in Mah-Ku. At the present time statements
have been circulated among thy disciples identical with those
made by the Shi'ihs who have said that the Qur'an is unfinished.
These people also contend that this Bayan is not the original
one. The copy in the handwriting of Siyyid Husayn is extant, as
is also the copy in the handwriting of Mirza Ahmad.
Regardest thou as one wronged he who in this world was never
dealt a single blow, and who was continually surrounded by five
of the handmaidens of God? And imputest thou unto the True One,
Who, from His earliest years until the present day, hath been in
the hands of His enemies, and been tormented with the worst
afflictions in the world, such charges as the Jews did not
ascribe unto Christ? Hearken unto the voice of this Wronged One,
and be not of them that are in utter loss.
And, likewise, He saith: "How many the fires which God
converteth into light through Him Whom God shall make manifest;
and how numerous the lights which are turned into fire through
Him! I behold His appearance even as the sun in the midmost
heaven, and the disappearance of all even as that of the stars
of the night by day." Hast thou ears, O world, wherewith to hear
the voice of the True One, and to judge equitably this
Revelation Which, as soon as it appeared, Sinai exclaimed: "He
that discoursed upon Me is come with evident signs and
resplendent tokens, in spite of every heedless one that hath
gone far astray, and of every lying calumniator, who hath wished
to quench the light of God with his calumnies, and blot out the
signs of God through his malice. They, verily, are of such as
have acted unjustly in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds."
And likewise, He saith: "The Bayan is from beginning to end the
repository of all of His attributes, and the treasury of both
His fire and His light." Great God! The soul is carried away by
the fragrance of this utterance, inasmuch as He declareth, with
infinite sadness, that which He perceiveth. Likewise, He saith
to the Letter of the Living, Mulla Baqir-upon him be the glory
of God and His loving-kindness:
"Haply thou mayest in eight years, in the day of His Revelation,
attain unto His Presence."
Know thou, O Hadi, and be of them that hearken. Judge thou
equitably. The companions of God and the Testimonies of Him Who
is the Truth have, for the most part, suffered martyrdom. Thou,
however, art still alive. How is it that thou hast been spared?
I swear by God! It is because of thy denial, whereas the
martyrdom of the blessed souls was due to their confession.
Every just and fair-minded person will bear witness unto this,
inasmuch as the cause and motive of both are clear and evident
as the sun.
And likewise He addresseth Dayyan, who was wronged and suffered
martyrdom, saying: "Thou shalt recognize thy worth through the
words of Him Whom God shall make manifest." He, likewise, hath
pronounced him to be the third Letter to believe in Him Whom God
shall make manifest, through these words: "O thou who art the
third Letter to believe in Him Whom God shall make manifest!"
And likewise He saith: "Should God, however, be willing, He will
make thee known through the words of Him Whom God shall make
manifest." Dayyan, who, according to the words of Him Who is the
Point-may the souls of all else but Him be sacrificed for His
sake-is the repository of the trust of the one true God-exalted
be His glory-and the treasury of the pearls of His knowledge,
was made by them to suffer so cruel a martyrdom that the
Concourse on high wept and lamented. He it is whom He (the Bab)
had taught the hidden and preserved knowledge and entrusted him
therewith, through His words:
"O thou who art named Dayyan! This is a hidden and preserved
Knowledge. We have entrusted it unto thee, and brought it to
thee, as a mark of honor from God, inasmuch as the eye of thine
heart is pure. Thou wilt appreciate its value, and wilt cherish
its excellence. God, verily, hath deigned to bestow upon the
Point of the Bayan a hidden and preserved Knowledge, the like of
which God hath not sent down prior to this Revelation. More
precious is it than any other knowledge in the estimation of
God-glorified be He!
He, verily, hath made it His testimony, even as He hath made the
verses to be His testimony." This oppressed one, who was the
repository of the knowledge of God, together with Mirza
Ali-Akbar, one of the relatives of the Primal Point-upon him be
the glory of God and His mercy-and Abu'l-Qasim-i-Kashi and
several others suffered martyrdom through the decree pronounced
by Mirza Yahya.
O Hadi! His book which he hath entitled "Mustayqiz" is in thy
possession. Read it. Although thou hast seen the book, peruse it
again, that haply thou mayest obtain for thyself a lofty seat
beneath the canopy of truth.
In like manner, Siyyid Ibrahim, concerning whom these words have
flowed from the Pen of the Primal Point-magnified be His
utterance: "O thou who art mentioned as My friend in My
scriptures, and as My remembrance in My books, next to My
scriptures, and as My name in the Bayan"-such a one, together
with Dayyan, hath been surnamed by him (Mirza Yahya) Father of
Iniquities and Father of Calamities. Judge thou fairly, how
grievous hath been the plight of these oppressed ones, and this
notwithstanding that one of them was occupied in serving him,
whilst the other was his guest. Briefly, I swear by God, the
deeds he committed were such that Our Pen is ashamed to recount.
Reflect a while upon the dishonor inflicted upon the Primal
Point. Consider what hath happened. When this Wronged One, after
a retirement of two years during which He wandered through the
deserts and mountains, returned to Baghdad, as a result of the
intervention of a few, who for a long time had sought Him in the
wilderness, a certain Mirza Muhammad-'Ali of Rasht came to see
Him, and related, before a large gathering of people, that which
had been done, affecting the honor of the Bab, which hath truly
overwhelmed all lands with sorrow. Great God! How could they
have countenanced this most grievous betrayal? Briefly, We
beseech God to aid the perpetrator of this deed to repent, and
return unto Him. He, verily, is the Helper, the All-Wise.
As to Dayyan-upon him be the glory of God and His mercy-he
attained Our presence in accordance with that which had been
revealed by the pen of the Primal Point. We pray God to aid the
heedless to turn unto Him, and such as have turned aside to
direct themselves towards Him, and them that have denied Him to
acknowledge this Cause, which, no sooner did it appear than all
created things proclaimed:
"He that was hidden in the Treasury of Knowledge, and inscribed
by the Pen of the Most High in His Books, and His Scriptures,
and His Scrolls, and His Tablets, is come!"
In this connection it hath been deemed necessary to mention such
traditions as have been recorded regarding the blessed and
honored city of Akka, that haply thou mayest, O Hadi, seek a
path unto the Truth, and a road leading unto God.
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
The following hath been recorded concerning the merits of Akka,
and of the sea, and of Aynu'l-Baqar (The Spring of the Cow)
which is in Akka:
Abdu'l-'Aziz, son of Abdu'-Salam, hath related unto us that the
Prophet-may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon
him-hath said: "Akka is a city in Syria to which God hath shown
His special mercy."
Ibn-i-Mas'ud-may God be pleased with him-hath stated: "The
Prophet-may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon
Him-hath said: 'Of all shores the best is the shore of Askelon,
and Akka is, verily, better than Askelon, and the merit of Akka
above that of Askelon and all other shores is as the merit of
Muhammad above that of all other Prophets.
I bring you tidings of a city betwixt two mountains in Syria, in
the middle of a meadow, which is called Akka. Verily, he that
entereth therein, longing for it and eager to visit it, God will
forgive his sins, both of the past and of the future. And he
that departeth from it, other than as a pilgrim, God will not
bless his departure. In it is a spring called the Spring of the
Cow. Whoso drinketh a draught therefrom, God will fill his heart
with light, and will protect him from the most great terror on
the Day of Resurrection.'"
Anas, son of Malik-may God be pleased with him-hath said: "The
Apostle of God-may the blessings of God and His salutations be
upon Him-hath said: 'By the shore of the sea is a city,
suspended beneath the Throne, and named Akka. He that dwelleth
therein, firm and expecting a reward from God-exalted be He-God
will write down for him, until the Day of Resurrection, the
recompense of such as have been patient, and have stood up, and
knelt down, and prostrated themselves, before Him.'"
And He-may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon
Him-hath said: "I announce unto you a city, on the shores of the
sea, white, whose whiteness is pleasing unto God-exalted be He!
It is called Akka. He that hath been bitten by one of its fleas
is better, in the estimation of God, than he who hath received a
grievous blow in the path of God. And he that raiseth therein
the call to prayer, his voice will be lifted up unto Paradise.
And he that remaineth therein for seven days in the face of the
enemy, God will gather him with Khidr-peace be upon Him-and God
will protect him from the most great terror on the Day of
Resurrection." And He-may the blessings of God,--exalted be
He-and His salutations be upon Him-hath said: "There are kings
and princes in Paradise. The poor of Akka are the kings of
Paradise and the princes thereof. A month in Akka is better than
a thousand years elsewhere."
The Apostle of God-may the blessings of God and His salutations
be upon Him-is reported to have said: "Blessed the man that hath
visited Akka, and blessed he that hath visited the visitor of
Akka.
Blessed the one that hath drunk from the Spring of the Cow and
washed in its waters, for the black-eyed damsels quaff the
camphor in Paradise, which hath come from the Spring of the Cow,
and from the Spring of Salvan (Siloam), and the Well of Zamzam.
Well is it with him that hath drunk from these springs, and
washed in their waters, for God hath forbidden the fire of hell
to touch him and his body on the Day of Resurrection."
The Prophet-may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon
Him-is stated to have said: "In Akka are works of supererogation
and acts which are beneficial, which God vouchsafed specially
unto whomsoever He pleaseth. And he that saith in Akka:
'Glorified be God, and praise be unto God, and there is none
other God but God, and most great is God, and there is no power
nor strength except in God, the Exalted, the Mighty,' God will
write down for him a thousand good deeds, and blot out from him
a thousand evil deeds, and will uplift him a thousand grades in
Paradise, and will forgive him his transgressions. And whoso
saith in Akka: 'I beg forgiveness of God,' God will forgive all
his trespasses. And he that remembereth God in Akka at morn and
at eventide, in the night-season and at dawn, is better in the
sight of God than he who beareth swords, spears and arms in the
path of God-exalted be He!"
The Apostle of God-may the blessings of God and His salutations
be upon Him-hath also said: "He that looketh upon the sea at
eventide, and saith: 'God is Most Great!' at sunset, God will
forgive his sins, though they be heaped as piles of sand. And he
that counteth forty waves, while repeating: 'God is Most
Great!'-exalted be He-God will forgive his sins, both past and
future."
The Apostle of God-may the blessings of God and His salutations
be upon Him-hath said: "He that looketh upon the sea a full
night is better than he who passeth two whole months betwixt the
Rukn and the Maqam. And he that hath been brought up on the
shores of the sea is better than he that hath been brought up
elsewhere. And he that lieth on the shore is as he that standeth
elsewhere."
Verily, the Apostle of God-may the blessings of God, exalted be
He, and His salutations be upon Him-hath spoken the truth. |
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