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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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Prayers and
Meditations by Bahaullah:
Section 6 |
XLVIII
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 &Akka,
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.
XLIX
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.
L
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.
LI
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.
LII
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.
LIII
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.
LIV
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.
LV
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.
LVI
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 &Baha. 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
&Ali-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 &Bayan 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! |
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