BB00196: Reply to Mulla Ibrahim Mahallati

Praise be to God Who hath revealed unto His creation His signs deposited within the glory of their realities, and all that He hath created in the horizons without likeness or similitude, that all might attain unto clear certitude.

O God! I bear witness unto Thee in this Book even as Thou bearest witness unto Thyself before all things, that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast never been known by aught in the eternity of eternities, nor shalt Thou be described by any mention in all that is brought forth through creation, for Thou art God, Who hath ever been as Thou art, and naught existed besides Thee. And now Thou art even as Thou wert in the eternity of eternities. If it be said “He is He,” the Oneness itself pointeth to its own essence, yet is severed from Thee in its origination from naught. And if it be said “Thou art Thou,” like resembleth like, yet indicateth Thee not as Thou art in the glory of Oneness save through what the symbol signifieth in its counterpart.

Glorified art Thou, O my God, above the attributes of contingent beings and all that is possible in creation before Thee, and above the description of existent things and all that cometh into being through Thy Command. Thou art He Who cannot be known through Thy creation, nor described through Thy signs, nor can aught indicate Thee save Thine own Self, alone, without partner. When Thou didst manifest creation, entities came into being from naught through Thy creative act. When Thou didst describe Thyself for invention’s sake, the perplexed were bewildered in their knowledge of Thy signs, being prevented from attaining their own reality and in every state indicating their impotence from their limitations.

Glorified, glorified art Thou! No description befitteth Thee save Thine own Self, no name belongeth to Thee save Thine own Essence. Whoso claimeth to describe Thy Being or name Thy Self hath fabricated against Thee according to his own judgment, for Thou hast existed in the eternity of eternities without description or name, while he hath come into being by Thy command. How then can one brought into existence through creation know Him Who is not bound by the making of things? Glorified, glorified art Thou! The mention of attributes is prevented from reaching Thee by its own testimony that it is Thy creation, and the condition of names is cut off from Thy Command by the testimony of eternity from Thyself unto Thyself. There is no God but Thee, and none knoweth how Thou art save Thee.

Thou art the Truth without likeness or similitude, and all else besides Thee is Thy creation, within Thy grasp. Thou hast placed naught between Thee and Thy creation save their own selves, bringing them forth through the Word of creation that they might exist.

And I bear witness unto Muhammad—Thy blessings be upon him and his family—even as Thou hast testified in the glory of the Unseen, unconnected with any mention, for Thou didst create him for the glory of Thyself, the station of Thy sovereignty, and made him the station of Thy Lordship in fulfillment and decree, where nothing passeth from thing to thing save through him, nor is anything raised unto Thee save by his leave. The others have been effaced and the traces have been illumined, and all upon which the name of creation hath fallen revolveth by Thy leave around the thousand unconnected from his attributes originated in the realities of creation, and none knoweth him as Thou createst him save Thyself alone. Verily Thou art the Lord of might over all creation.

And I bear witness unto the successors of Thy beloved Muhammad—Thy blessings be upon him and his family—according to what Thou willest for them of exaltation and power, and none encompasseth their knowledge save by Thy leave. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest.

And I bear witness unto everything upon which the name of a thing hath fallen according to what Thy knowledge and Thy Book have encompassed of love and hatred from Thyself and from Thy near servants who love nothing save through Thy love and hate nothing save through Thy hate, and who are fearful from awe of Thee.

O God! Thou knowest that my judgment hath descended upon one of Thy servants, a written book in which the Word of Sinai is recounted in the horizon of Manifestation. O God, cause them to remember Thee and to attain Thy good-pleasure, and enable them to progress from the station of knowledge to the realm of deeds, that they may not be veiled by names and attributes from beholding Thy countenance, and may behold Thee at every moment even as Thou didst reveal Thyself to them on the first day. Verily, Thou art witness over all things.

I was asked about five decisive verses wherein many have gone astray. Thou knowest, O my God, that I desired not to answer through the ways of reasoning, as I had delegated authority to him who was my teacher in the realm of names and attributes, and who was the most worthy of all people in regard to the Book. But since the remembrance is Thy remembrance, I commune with Thee concerning His verses in ways that Thou lovest and with which Thou art well-pleased. Thou bestowest upon whom Thou willest whatsoever Thou willest, and withholdest from whom Thou willest as Thou willest when Thou willest. None can resist Thy Will or reverse Thy decree. Thou art witness over all things.

O God, Thou knowest that Thy servant, in what he mentioned regarding the first question, neither possesseth for himself any benefit nor harm, and whatsoever existeth is Thy creation and within Thy grasp, and none hath power to withhold or bestow except by Thy will. Sufficient art Thou as a witness over me. O God, Thou hast appointed for all things a limit, and whoso transgresseth Thy bounds deserveth the judgment that is with Thee. Thou hast veiled the veil of Thy loved ones, and none is permitted to uncover what Thou hast concealed for them. The questioner hath mentioned in the first question Thy hidden secret, Thy veiled Word, and Thy manifest and established Sign. For each there is a portion from the Book. Blessed is he who hath recognized Thy power as it behooveth Thy glory and grandeur, and who seeth none besides Thee, O my God, as independently existing. Thus should the workers work.

I testify that Thy decree concerning the second verse is as Thy decree concerning the first verse. As for us, we make no distinction between any of Thy Messengers, and we are unto them submissive. I testify that Thou hast not placed anyone in the station of legislation at the level of Thy loved ones except that Thou hast placed them in the station of creation at the level of Thy trustees. The two Babs are before Thee the manifestation of Thy light and Thy mystery in all the worlds, and they are among the chiefs who circle round Thee, as was inscribed in the Mother Book.

I testify that Thy decree concerning the third verse is as Thy decree concerning what Thou didst mention in the second, save for the special honor Thou didst bestow upon these two. And verily today he is a gate whose obedience is obligatory upon all, and from whose presence all must receive. O God, protect those who turn to him and abandon those who deny him. Thou art witness over all things.

I testify that Thy decree concerning the fourth is decisive that in derivative matters one must ask of the two whom Thou hast appointed for mankind, and they have authority over all the believers. For those who cannot reach them in times of struggle, nor journey to them, it is permissible to act according to the Book and the Tradition with utmost precaution. God is ever-forgiving, merciful toward those possessed of certitude.

O God, Thou knowest the fifth verse and what was intended in the allusions of his words. O God, assist those who desire to convey Thy judgment and manifest Thy Cause according to the Book and the Tradition, and aid those who desire to help Thy Faith and exalt Thy Word. Verily, Thou art the Beneficent, the Bountiful, and Thou art the Most High, the Great.

O God, Thou knowest regarding what was asked concerning the Majesty and the Beauty that I am fearful and expectant in the station of witnessing, but Thou, O my God, hast set forth such examples in his absence and presence.

O my God! Hasten our days by granting us presence before Thy assured servants, for their hearts tremble to behold Thy light. Verily, Thou art the Bestower of great bounty. There is no power nor strength except in God, the Most High, the Most Great. Immeasurably exalted is God above what the oppressors say, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.