BB00102: Answer to Mulla Abdu’l-Jalil on 20 questions

Part 1: “Praise be to God Who is uniquely endowed…”

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Praise be to God Who is uniquely endowed with might and sanctified through His grandeur. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise. I bear witness, O my God, that on this day of the month of fasting, which Thou hast honored and wherein Thou didst reveal the Qur’an as guidance, and which Thou hast distinguished and made a guidance for all the worlds and a remembrance for the humble—even as Thou didst testify to Thine own Self before all things, in a manner none knoweth save Thee alone, there is no God but Thee—Thou hast made the paths of the monotheists lead to the station of Thy creation, and the ultimate portion of the mystics to the glory of Thy oneness, that all created things might receive their share of wisdom from the Word of Creation at every moment, neither lacking anything nor missing aught in less than the instant of the manifestation of Thy creative Will.

All things bear witness to the signs of Thy love and Thy revelation at every moment, without manner or likeness, for Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast created all things according to the pattern of Thy revelation, without will in the pattern or word among equals. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Most High.

I bear witness for every created thing encompassed by Thy knowledge what Thou lovest for Thyself from all the people of creation and what Thou createst at every moment. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Wise. O God, Thou knowest what no one besides Thee knoweth. Many books have been gathered from Thy servants who observe obedience to Thee and love for Thee, who recite the Book of God as it should be recited and who fear the Day when all shall be gathered unto God.

O God, Thou knowest that none had the right to answer after Thou didst entrust judgment to those most worthy of the Book, and my judgment was not a word of answer in the way of the people’s affirmation. But since the month is Thy month and the servants are Thy guests, and grief hath overwhelmed me, I commune with Thee concerning what Thy servants have asked of me, that my secret thoughts might be calmed and my heart unburdened, and that the beloved ones among Thy servants might be content with Thy judgment, their souls trembling at Thy remembrance, patient with Thy promise, steadfast upon Thy path, and be among the thankful ones.

O God, Thou knowest that I have sent to him who was the first believer in Thy judgment some of the books, that he might answer the people according to the judgment of the Qur’an, and we shall send those verses from the books to him who was my teacher in some days, that they both might answer the servants concerning what they are asking. But Thou, O my God, answer me regarding some of what Thy servants have asked, for Thou art near, responsive.

Among them are those who have asked about the word of the Covenant, those who have sent greetings to me, those who have mentioned obedience to Thee in my days, those who have expressed in their books their desire to meet Thee, those who have asked various questions, and those who have asked about certain judgments. Thou, O my God, knowest the station of their souls and what they have intended in that matter regarding obedience to Thee and Thy good pleasure. Therefore, O God, fulfill through Thy right upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, for those who have asked about Thy covenant, and grant peace, O my God, through their right, that Thou mayest give them peace in the highest degrees. Reward, O God, the people of their obedience with what is worthy of Thee in bounty and glory, and inscribe, O God, for those who yearn, who prostrate themselves, and who are devout, Thy Garden of Eden and what Thy knowledge encompasseth of Thy favors. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things.

I beseech Thee, O my God, to vouchsafe unto those whose hearts are turned to Thee the revelation of Thyself at every instant, and unto the people of obedience Thy love and Thy good-pleasure; for Thou, verily, art the Lord of abounding grace. I beseech Thee, O my God, by those whom Thou hast made the repositories of Thy knowledge, the interpreters of Thy Will, the pillars of Thy unity, the executors of Thy Cause, possessed of authority in ordainment and forbearance in inception, to send Thy blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad—treasuries of knowledge and revelation for whatsoever Thou createst and willest—and to preserve Thy believing servants from doubt, atheism, evil whisperings and the wickedness of Thy servants.

Preserve, O Lord, through Thy Most Great Protection and Thy Most Exalted Words, that small band from what lies before them, behind them, to their left, and from every quarter that Thy knowledge encompasses them, from evil that Thy knowledge encompasses and whatsoever occurs at every moment through ordainment. O Lord, guard them and those who follow them among the latter ones through Thy guardianship, Thy power, Thy protection and Thy Will. Admit them, O Lord, into Thy fortress and strengthen them in every circumstance through Thy remembrance, and inspire them in the path of their love with that which will enable them to attain naught but Thy good-pleasure. Verily Thou art the Generous, the Bestower. Nothing in the heavens or earth is too great for Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest, and eraseth what Thou willest, and confirmeth what Thou willest, and with Thee is the Mother Book.

O Lord, verily Thou knowest the decree of all things and hast made clear the knowledge of all things lest anyone need mention aught through any of Thy creatures, nor should anyone say “Had God detailed the decree of that matter in the Book, I would have been among those who act.”

And as for him who asked about the decree of the two souls in the blessed verse, Thou, O my God, hast indeed explained its decree through interpretation that were the sea ink for Thy words, the sea would be spent before Thy words are spent, even if brought another sea like it to aid it. Thou didst intend in the outward meaning of that verse the tree of unbelief and its shadow, and through the striking of similitudes, its manifestations. Nothing is hidden from Thee and Thou art knowing of all things.

This servant was asked about the Companions of the Cave and the second believer in the Bayan. Thou hast explained its decree in the first word as the Imams of justice, the companions of Thy Messenger Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets—Thy blessings be upon them all. And from the second word, Thy servant who sat by the decree of tyranny in Baghdad. Deliver him, O Lord, by the right of Muhammad and His family from the hand of the oppressor howsoever Thou willest and wheresoever Thou willest. Verily Thou sufficeth against all and none sufficeth against Thee, and Thou art powerful over all things.

This believer in Thy verses asked, after Thou didst answer before Thy face concerning the promised talisman and the decree of what exists in contingent being from the word of the Gates. Verily Thou art witness over all things. I know that Thou didst answer his first question with the word of the Qur’an “Is not God sufficient for His servant?” and his second question that a thing is not known except through the decree of itself, nor does it point to anything except the stations of its Lord, nor does it comprehend the stations of what is created in contingent being greater than it except beneath the rank of its heart, nor is known therein the mention of the mention of God Who appeared higher than it.

There is no doubt, O my God, that all existence came into being from the letter of the Command, and were I to believe that atoms came into being from the word of Thy servant, my acknowledgment would be greater in the seat of Thy power and the establishment of Thy Will in the place of the Most Great Command. There was not and will not be except Thy greatest Command and Thy mightiest Word, and none knoweth the family of God—peace of God be upon them. Their followers are but servants bound between their hands, powerless to accomplish anything, yet they make mention of them and worship them. O Lord! Strengthen his soul in that which Thou hast answered from Thy presence.

I am Thy servant, less than an atom—were Thou to punish me with all Thy chastisement for all eternity, I would be deserving of it. Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee! Thy generosity is most exalted and Thy wisdom most perfect. I expect from Thee naught but Thy forgiveness and protection, for Thou art the All-Bountiful, the All-Wise.

Part 2: “Among them was one who asked about seven…”

Among them was one who asked about seven verses, and Thou knowest, O my God, the wisdom therein: the relation of the servant to their Lord; the decree concerning the Beast of the Earth before the establishment of Thy Proof upon the earth; the mention of what was mentioned; the taking of Thy chosen servants in the days before the manifestation of Thy sovereignty over the lands; Thy decree concerning the best of deeds in the month of fasting; the sending down of verses unto him; and the decree concerning the Night of Power among the nights of the month; and the mention of questions in all that he wished—verily Thou encompasseth all things.

I testify, O my God, that Thou hast explained the first decree and the relation of the two Gates to Him, that Thou art the Truth and all else is Thy creation and within Thy grasp, and that they are Thy servants created through the light of fulfillment and the letter of beginning. The latter of them preceded the first letter through the fulfillment of decree, and verily Thou dost not fail in Thy promise. I know that what Thou meanest by the Beast of the Earth is that which moves in the land of creation before Thee, and that he is Thy servant who hath explained the decree of the two Gates through his decree and established their truth through his command, and he is but a fearful, poor servant.

I bear witness that the successor of Thy Messenger—Thy blessings be upon them both—is not veiled from any soul in any condition, and that it is a Book wherein is no doubt, a guidance and reminder for the worshippers. I bear witness that what they said concerning Thy Proof regarding the signs of the return of their Qa’im—Thy blessings be upon them—shall appear before their dominion in the manner they spoke of them. With Thee is the knowledge of all things—Thou dost efface what Thou willest and establish what Thou willest, and with Thee is the Mother Book.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! How shall I mention the best of deeds in that month and the decree concerning the Night of Power therein, after Thou hast made clear in the Qur’an that the remembrance of God is greatest, and that it is indeed the remembrance of a noble Messenger? And Muhammad, Thy beloved—Thy blessings be upon him and his family—explained the Night of Power to be on the third night of the last ten nights, and there is no doubt in its decree, and Thou art possessed of great bounty. Thou knowest the decree concerning what remains of His verses, that I desired naught but the good pleasure of Thy friends, and sufficient art Thou today as one informed of this.

Among Thy monotheistic servants was one who asked about Thy remembrance which would strengthen his heart upon the Path, and about Thy decree concerning the servant to whom Thou hast delegated authority—and verily Thou art powerful over all things.

O God! The greatest remembrance with Thee is the word “No god” within themselves—therefore, O God, bestow Thy blessings upon them through the bounty of Thy Self, for Thou art the Lord of might over all creation. O my God! Thou knowest the decree concerning Thy servant who believes in Thy verses and who preceded in the fourth particle from among the followers of Thy decrees. Therefore, O God, send peace upon him and upon whoever takes knowledge from his self through all Thy verses and conditions—verily Thou art possessed of ancient grace.

And, among Thy servants who are assured of Thy command, one hath inquired concerning the fast of the Sacred Month and the breaking thereof on its fourth day. Inspire him, O my God, with Thy remembrance, and enable him to attain unto Thy decree; for I intended not the outward form of the ordinance, but rather the allusion to its inner reality that presented itself within my remembrance. Verily, Thou art Witness over all things.

And, among Thy sincere servants who acknowledge Thy right, one hath asked concerning five signs—namely the word of the Qur’an: “Glorified be He Who created all the pairs, of what the earth bringeth forth, and of themselves, and of what they know not.”; and what the Messenger of God (Thy blessings be upon him and his pure family) said regarding what the pens have written; and what was Thy decree concerning the relationship between the pillars among the servants, then the chiefs, then the nobles; and the ruling about what emerges from the faster’s chest to the space of his mouth; and the ruling about reciting the noon prayer aloud on Friday—all these Thy servant has asked of me in his letter.

Thou, O my God, hast answered regarding the Qur’anic verse about the law of pairs in the land of command, in the souls of creation, and in what they know not in the hidden word and Thy concealed covenant in the station of knowledge.

And regarding what the pens have written, it is the decree of Thy creation at all times, for creation exists only as they were created, and they were created only according to what they do. Thou hast sent down all command in Thy Book:

“Act, for all is made easy according to that for which it was created.”

Thou hast explained the three relationships in the divine Command like the relationship of spirit, soul and body before Thee in the Mother Book. Thou hast given the name of “pegs” to the chiefs and the name of “substitutes” to the nobles, and Thy decree in all matters is detailed and explained, needing no clarification from Thy servants. Thou encompasseth all things. O my God, Thou knowest my decree, witnesseth my secret, and knoweth my conscience.

I have explained the ruling about what emerges from the chest to the mouth during fasting—that he should expel it from his mouth, and it is not valid if he was deliberate in his action. Thou forgiveth those who cannot control themselves, for Thou art Kind and Merciful to the believers.

I bear witness that Thy friends have mentioned that reciting the noon prayer aloud on Friday is a tradition. Thou recompenseth each according to what they have done, and Thou encompasseth all things.

O God, I have answered Thy decree in twenty questions from Thy servants in this hour of the fasting month, and I confess before Thee my shortcoming in being brief due to the presence of others. But I beseech Thee, O my God, to forgive what Thy knowledge encompasses, and tell Thy servants what they need of Thy decrees in the days of Thy festival. Thou bestowest upon whom Thou willest as Thou willest, and withholdest from whom Thou willest as Thou willest. None can repel Thy command or reverse Thy decree. Thou art powerful over all things. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.