Gracious God! In His [the Báb’s] Book, which He hath
entitled “Qayyúmu’l-Asmá,”—the first, the greatest and mightiest of all
books—He prophesied His own martyrdom. In it is this passage: “O thou Remnant
of God! I have sacrificed myself wholly for Thee; I have accepted curses for
Thy sake; and have yearned for naught but martyrdom in the path of Thy love.
Sufficient Witness unto me is God, the Exalted, the Protector, the Ancient of
Days!” 
Another proof and evidence of the truth of this Revelation
[the Báb’s], which amongst all other proofs shineth as the sun, is the constancy
of the eternal Beauty in proclaiming the Faith of God. Though young and tender
of age, and though the Cause He revealed was contrary to the desire of all the
peoples of earth, both high and low, rich and poor, exalted and abased, king
and subject, yet He arose and steadfastly proclaimed it. All have known and
heard this. He was afraid of no one; He was regardless of consequences. Could
such a thing be made manifest except through the power of a divine Revelation,
and the potency of God’s invincible Will? By the righteousness of God! Were any
one to entertain so great a Revelation in his heart, the thought of such a
declaration would alone confound him! Were the hearts of all men to be crowded
into his heart, he would still hesitate to venture upon so awful an enterprise.
He could achieve it only by the permission of God, only if the channel of his
heart were to be linked with the Source of divine grace, and his soul be
assured of the unfailing sustenance of the Almighty. To what, We wonder, do
they ascribe so great a daring? Do they accuse Him of folly as they accused the
Prophets of old? Or do they maintain that His motive was none other than
leadership and the acquisition of earthly riches?
O Land of Tá (Tihrán)! Let nothing grieve thee, for God hath
chosen thee to be the source of the joy of all mankind. He shall, if it be His
Will, bless thy throne with one who will rule with justice, who will gather
together the flock of God which the wolves have scattered. Such a ruler will,
with joy and gladness, turn his face towards, and extend his favors unto, the
people of Bahá. He indeed is accounted in the sight of God, as a jewel among
men. Upon him rest forever the glory of God, and the glory of all that dwell in
the kingdom of His revelation.
Were men to observe with the eye of justice, they would be
made aware of the secret of this blessed verse: “Neither is there a thing green
or sere, but it is noted in a distinct writing,” and would comprehend it. On
this day, however, men’s repudiation of the truth hath prevented them from
understanding what hath been sent down in truth by Him Who is the Revealer, the
Ancient of Days. Gracious God! Perspicuous signs have appeared on every side,
and yet men are, for the most part, deprived of the privilege of beholding and
of comprehending them. We beseech God to bestow His aid, that all men may
recognize the pearls that lie hid within the shells of the Most Great Ocean,
and exclaim: “Praised be Thou, O God of the world!”
…He [the Báb] saith: “The year-old germ that holdeth within
itself the potentialities of the Revelation that is to come is endowed with a
potency superior to the combined forces of the whole of the Bayán.” These
glad-tidings of the Bayán and of the Books of former times have been repeatedly
mentioned under divers names in numerous books, that perchance men might judge
equitably that which hath arisen and shone forth above the horizon of the will
of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
The essence of charity is for the servant to recount the
blessings of his Lord, and to render thanks unto Him at all times and under all
conditions.
Amongst the people are those who allege that this Youth [Baha'u'llah] hath
had no purpose but to perpetuate His name, whilst others claim that He hath
sought for Himself the vanities of the world—this, notwithstanding that never,
throughout all My days, have I found a place of safety, be it to the extent of
a single foothold. At all times have I
been immersed in an ocean of tribulations, whose full measure none can fathom
but God. He, truly, is aware of what I
say. How many the days in which My loved
ones have been sorely shaken by reason of My afflictions, and how many the
nights during which My kindred, fearing for My life, have bitterly wept and
lamented! And this none can deny save
them that are bereft of truthfulness. Is
it conceivable that He Who expecteth to lose His life at any moment should seek
after worldly vanities? How very strange
the imaginings of those who speak as prompted by their own caprices, and who
wander distractedly in the wilderness of self and passion! Erelong shall they be called upon to account
for their words, and on that day they shall find none to befriend or help them.
Erelong will the state of affairs within thee (Tihrán) be
changed, and the reins of power fall into the hands of the people. Verily, thy
Lord is the All-Knowing. His authority embraceth all things. Rest thou assured
in the gracious favor of thy Lord. The eye of His loving-kindness shall
everlastingly be directed towards thee. The day is approaching when thy
agitation will have been transmuted into peace and quiet calm. Thus hath it
been decreed in the Wondrous Book.
Rejoice with great joy, O Land of Tá (Tihrán), for God hath
made thee the dayspring of His light, inasmuch as within thee was born the
Manifestation of His glory. Be thou glad for this name that hath been conferred
upon thee—a name through which the Daystar of grace hath shed its splendor,
through which both earth and heaven have been illumined.
The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word
of God, and steadfastness in His Love.
O King! Wert thou to
incline thine ear unto the shrill of the Pen of Glory and the cooing of the
Dove of Eternity which, on the branches of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is
no passing, uttereth praises to God, the Maker of all names and Creator of earth
and heaven, thou wouldst attain unto a station from which thou wouldst behold
in the world of being naught save the effulgence of the Adored One, and wouldst
regard thy sovereignty as the most contemptible of thy possessions, abandoning
it to whosoever might desire it, and setting thy face toward the Horizon aglow
with the light of His countenance. Neither wouldst thou ever be willing to bear the burden of dominion save
for the purpose of helping thy Lord, the Exalted, the Most High. Then would the Concourse on high bless
thee. O how excellent is this most
sublime station, couldst thou ascend thereunto through the power of a
sovereignty recognized as derived from the Name of God!
The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face
towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance,
and stand as witness before Him.
The essence of belief in Divine unity consisteth in
regarding Him Who is the Manifestation of God and Him Who is the invisible, the
inaccessible, the unknowable Essence as one and the same. By this is meant that
whatever pertaineth to the former, all His acts and doings, whatever He
ordaineth or forbiddeth, should be considered, in all their aspects, and under
all circumstances, and without any reservation, as identical with the Will of
God Himself. This is the loftiest station to which a true believer in the unity
of God can ever hope to attain. Blessed is the man that reacheth this station,
and is of them that are steadfast in their belief.
QUESTION: Should antipathy develop between a couple after
the Marriage Verses have been read and the dowry paid, may divorce take place
without observance of the year of patience?
True reliance is for the servant to pursue his profession
and calling in this world, to hold fast unto the Lord, to seek naught but His
grace, inasmuch as in His Hands is the destiny of all His servants.
QUESTION: Which is to take precedence: the Huqúqu’lláh, the
debts of the deceased or the cost of the funeral and burial?
Some, deluded by their idle fancies, have conceived all
created things as associates and partners of God, and imagined themselves to be
the exponents of His unity. By Him Who is the one true God! Such men have been,
and will continue to remain, the victims of blind imitation, and are to be
numbered with them that have restricted and limited the conception of God.
Regard thou the one true God as One Who is apart from, and
immeasurably exalted above, all created things. The whole universe reflecteth
His glory, while He is Himself independent of, and transcendeth His creatures.
This is the true meaning of Divine unity. He Who is the Eternal Truth is the
one Power Who exerciseth undisputed sovereignty over the world of being, Whose
image is reflected in the mirror of the entire creation. All existence is
dependent upon Him, and from Him is derived the source of the sustenance of all
things. This is what is meant by Divine unity; this is its fundamental
principle.
Look upon this Youth, O King, with the eyes of justice;
judge thou, then, with truth concerning what hath befallen Him. Of a verity,
God hath made thee His shadow amongst men, and the sign of His power unto all
that dwell on earth. Judge thou between Us and them that have wronged Us
without proof and without an enlightening Book. They that surround thee love
thee for their own sakes, whereas this Youth loveth thee for thine own sake,
and hath had no desire except to draw thee nigh unto the seat of grace, and to
turn thee toward the right hand of justice. Thy Lord beareth witness unto that
which I declare.