BB00458: To Mirza Qudsi

To: Mirza Qudsi

Date: 1260-03-14 [1844-Apr-3]

Tihran. To Mirza Qudsi, addressed to the descendant of the great Siyyids in Mecca.

In the Name of God, the Most High.

O beloved, honored and respected friend, may God, the Most High, protect you.

Reckon not the withholding of bounty to be weariness.

Rather, whenever My hand reaches out to you,

It is as though something in the heart becomes aflame.

Two words of assaying, and with Me is the verdict.

The account of circumstances with the petition was received, which was sent with the Commentary on the Visitation.

As for what was sent from Yazd for your honor, like the illumined annotation, having perused the writing and seeing that your holy being is in perfect health, I offered praise and thanksgiving to the One True God with utmost humility, as befits Him, and none knows how He is except Him.

And regarding the ascension of the illustrious Siyyid [Kazim]—may God exalt his station—which you had mentioned, I clothed all my being in the garment of grief. We are from God and to Him do we return, in submission to God’s decree and yielding to His command. We have ordained the stages of life until it returns like the old date-stalk. Every soul shall taste death, then unto your Lord shall you return. Fie upon life after his passing!

And regarding the performance of the memorial service which your honor has undertaken—may God reward you as befits Him—this point that the pillars should undertake Islamic observances while turning away from this momentous news—O how I bewail this grief to You! Alas, then alas for his ascension to the Supreme Concourse. Never has time seen among the souls of the Shi’ih one like him. There is no power nor strength save in God. For the like of this should the workers work, and all shall return to their Lord.

It was supposed that a reply to your honor’s righteous letter which you had written on the back of your missive would be written and sent. God willing, I shall attain the illumined presence of his honor.

Convey greetings to the honored master Aqa Shaykh Ali. And he certified the Mazahiriyyih—write a note. All the letters of the scribes’ book have been given to him—set your mind at ease. And the account of [illegible] has been settled with your honor—if submitted previously, kindly suspend it.

Dated the 14th of Rabi’ al-Awwal 1260