BB00172: Prayer in reply to Mulla ’Abdu’l-Khaliq [Yazdi]

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

O Thou Who art praised and mighty, before Whose will all else stand in awe! O my God, I bear witness before Thee in this Book to that which Thou hast testified for Thyself before all things: There is none other God but Thee alone, without partner. Glorified and exalted art Thou above all that they describe. I testify that none beside Thee can know a mention of Thy Self, for all else was brought into being through the Word of creation. I bear witness unto Muhammad, Thy Messenger—Thy blessings be upon him—as Thou hast testified at the summit of creation unto him, and none knoweth how he is save Thee, for all else exists through the effusion of his light by Thy leave.

I bear witness unto Thy beloved ones, the letters of unity, as Thou hast testified unto them, for none beside them can attain unto aught of what Thou hast willed for them, and all stand in humility before them. I bear witness unto the Blessed Leaf from the White Tree as Thou hast willed for her of might and grandeur—there is no God but Thee—and all, by Thy leave, make mention of her and worship. I bear witness unto all things as Thy knowledge hath encompassed what Thou lovest for Thyself in all things in every condition—there is no God but Thee—and none knoweth how this is save Thee. Glorified and exalted art Thou above all they associate with Thee.

O God! Thou knowest what no one beside Thee knoweth. Thou hast distinguished Thyself through loftiness, glory, grandeur, majesty, might, and splendor. Thou dost try Thy servants through what Thou hast willed for them in the abode of the hereafter through extinction and tribulation, and Thou dost test Thy loved ones through what Thou hast created for them in the abode of honor through adversity and hardship.

Glorified art Thou, O God! Thou knowest and bearest witness that when Thou didst inspire me with the Word of the Bayan and permitted in the Qur’an the call of humanity, and permission came from Thy Proof at every moment, I detailed the decree of what Thou didst intend for the creation of existence and its people in a firm Book and precise verses in such wise as none before me had mentioned. Then I sent it through the most beloved of creation unto Thee and the first to respond at the Fourth Scene before Thee to all people, that the impure might be distinguished from the pure, and that none might say “Had God made His verses known to me, I would have been among those who prostrate themselves.”

Thou knowest, O my God, my affair and witnesseth my conscience—I desired naught in this Cause save Thy pure religion and Thy hidden Command. I have forbidden those who knew me to mention my name, and I left the precincts of Thy House in fear of Satan’s party, for they were an iniquitous people. Thou knowest the wisdom of what I commanded the learned regarding arrival in the Holy Land on the day of my return, that we might openly manifest Thy hidden covenant, and all might be among those who submit. Thou knowest the wisdom of what I heard in the Mother City concerning the denial of the learned and the rejection of Thy remote servants from among the people of the Holy Land. Therefore did I turn back from my purpose and did not travel by that path, lest sedition occur and the people of Thy obedience be humbled, and lest anyone raise his head in tyranny over another. Thou knowest what I have witnessed in this matter, and Thou art witness over all things.

O my God! The Command is Thy command and the Decree is Thy decree. I have fallen short in respect to Thy verses, even as I was already deficient in all matters. Therefore, O my God, judge between me and them with justice, and forgive those who have repented and followed Thy way. Verily, Thou art the Munificent, the Forbearing. O my God! Thou dost not alter Thy favor unto a people until they change what is within themselves of Thy decree. Thus hast Thou forbidden unto them the verses of Thy glory and the good things of Thy provision, for they were an oppressive people. Glory be unto Thee, O my God! When Thou wert grieved, Thou didst take vengeance upon them, and none can question Thy doings, while all must account for Thy decree. O my God! Thou knowest all things and hast power over all things, and Thou doest naught unto Thy believing servants save that which is best for them. Verily, Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the All-Praised.

O my God! Thou ordainest what Thou willest by Thy command, and that which is destined to pass shall come to pass in Thy dominion. Thou knowest that in the days of my return, I desired naught but Thy decree, and I have submitted to that which Thou knowest better than I from Thy Book. I desired neither the kingdom of this world nor of the next, nor the authority to issue religious decrees, but rather I desired God alone, my Lord. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Wise. O my God! Thou knowest the decree concerning that wherein people have differed regarding the Book, and how the divines of fire have confused the word of truth with falsehood before the rulers, and what the oppressor hath done unto Thy noble and honored servants, in such wise that it hath surpassed the tyranny of those who came before, and no Muslim would be content with such treatment of another Muslim, nor hath its like been seen in Islam.

O my God! Unto Thee do I complain of my grief and sorrow, for Thou knowest the greatness of my tribulation. This is naught but a test, that Thou mayest lead astray whom Thou willest and guide whom Thou willest, and that through this calamity every soul may be tried, that the fortunate may be distinguished from the wretched, and each may find his portion as prescribed in the Book. Then unto Thee shall they return. O my God! Thy promise in the Book is truth, and likewise have some oppressors befriended others. Therefore, O my God, judge between them with justice. Verily, Thou art the Strong, the Mighty.

And I know, O my God, were I to ask about this tribulation of Thine, Thou wouldst answer that Thy Lord hath willed to see thee as He hath shown thee, and willed that thou shouldst see the hateful faces as thou hast seen them, and willed that thou shouldst see the people of His obedience disturbed upon the earth, wandering, unable to do aught from fear, while they watch upon the earth. O my God! How can I mention before Thee that which the decree hath brought upon me, and the judgment of the Book hath been executed upon Thy servants? Were I to mention but a portion thereof, the Pen would be cleft and the Tablet would be rent asunder. We are God’s, and there is no strength save in God. What God hath willed hath come to pass, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Beyond what I have mentioned before Thee! Were it not for my fear that Thy monotheistic servants would lament and wail upon reciting these verses before Thee, this leaf would surely sob in Thy presence on account of this calamity—a calamity which, when it reached the Throne, caused it to quake; when it arrived at heaven, split it asunder; when it descended to earth, cleft it in twain; when it was mentioned to the sea, caused it to freeze; when it was read to the mountains, crushed them; and when it was unveiled to the worshippers, caused them to fall prostrate upon their faces before Thee—there is no God but Thee.

By Thy right and Thy majesty—and there is no power nor strength except through Thee—were it not for my fear of the Pen of Origination executing the decree and fulfilling what is ordained, I would surely raise before Thy face, in that station, such a cry as would cause the earth and its people to tremble, would set ablaze the hellfire and those within it, would cause the trumpet to be blown, then would resurrect the spirits, then every bearer of burden would cast off their burden, and every being would flee from their offspring and every soul from their spirit. Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee! Were it not for Thy power restraining me, no soul would remain within me. Verily, we are God’s and to Him do we return.

O God! I complain to Thee of what has been decreed. Where art Thou, O Remnant of God, that Thou mayest behold me and then help me? Where art Thou, O Proof of God, that Thou mayest witness Thy loved ones humbled before the tyrants? Where art Thou, O Guardian of God, that Thou mayest claim the rights of Thy followers, exalt Thy friends and abase Thine enemies? Where art Thou, O Light of God in the heavens and the earth, that Thou mayest see the people of Thy love wandering bewildered on earth, fearful and terrified? Where art Thou, O Vision of God, through whom Thy chosen ones turn to Him?

I testify that Thou knowest all things and no knowledge escapeth Thee, and that when Thou willest what God hath willed, it is by Thy command and for Thy sake, and all look to Thee. Glorified art Thou, O my Lord! Thou knowest my decree, and today a letter has been raised to me from Thee, from him whom Thou hast chosen for Thy covenant, selected for Thy love, and distinguished by the mention of his name in the Book. O God! Upon him and upon those who follow his command in every matter be what Thou art worthy of. Thou art worthy of glory and praise, there is no God but Thee.

I bear witness to what Thou hast detailed in his book by his own hand—its verses have transcended all similitudes, and its allusions are too subtle for comparison, and none knoweth its true meaning save Thee alone, there is no God but Thee. Glorified art Thou, O my God, by what I have mentioned before Thy face! O God! Draw nigh his presence and vision, for therein lies the tranquility of hearts and the comfort of souls. Oh, how I long to meet him! Inspire him, O God, with Thy decree and Thy help, however Thou willest and whenever Thou willest, for he is the helper of Thy Cause, the awaiter of Thy sovereignty, and the expectant of Thy command. There is no power nor strength except through Thee, and Thou art powerful over all things. Glorified be God beyond what they describe, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.