BB00038: Sahifiy-i-Vaviyyih

Part 1: “This is the treatise of the Letter Vav…”

This is the treatise of the Letter Vav, comprising six supplications

In the name of God, the Lord, the All-Powerful, the Chosen One

Praise be to God Who separateth between people with truth in that wherein they differ. He it is Who hath sent down verses in the Book with truth for those who prostrate themselves, who believe in His signs, who act according to the command of the All-Merciful, and who aid God on earth and present themselves before Him. He it is Who knoweth all that people do. Blessed be God, our Lord! There is no God but Him. He hath sent down verses in truth, and all are suppliants of His bounty. He it is Whose mercy encompasseth all who are in the heavens and the earth. Verily, there is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. He it is Whom nothing can frustrate, and all are submissive unto Him. Verily, He recompenseth every soul for what it hath earned, and God is not heedless of what all do. Say: Fear God, O people! Then read the verses of the Book with justice and associate not anything with God, that ye may prosper.

O One [farad]! The first supplication in praise [tahmid] of God, exalted and glorified be He

In the name of God, the Most High, the All-Praised

Praise be to God Who hath sent down verses through His grace as He willeth. Verily, He is powerful and mighty. O my God and my Desire! Praise be to Thee—praise whereby Thy light shineth forth in the heaven of mystery; praise be to Thee—praise whereby Thy radiance gleameth in the land of glorification; praise be to Thee—praise whereby light warbleth on Sinai in the sacred Tree; praise be to Thee—praise whereby the Dove singeth upon the branches of the Cause in the heaven of eternity; praise be to Thee—praise that filleth all the heavens with the wonders of Thy mercy, and the earth and all that is thereon with the beauty of Thy compassion, and all who are in the kingdom of Command and Creation with the majesty of Thy glory.

Glorified art Thou, O God! There is no God but Thee. I bear witness unto Thee, O my God, in this my station before the throne of Thy mercy, and in my position before the beauty of Thy countenance, that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever been without mention of aught else, and wilt ever be, for Thou art the One Who remaineth after the passing of all things. Creation cannot describe Thee, nor invention qualify Thee, for Thou art He Who can never be known through aught but Thyself from all eternity, nor be described save through Thyself in this most august and surging sea, nor be mentioned except through the manifestation of Thy Countenance in this profound darkness, nor be qualified save through the face of Thine eternity in that most extended and obscure gloom.

Glorified, glorified art Thou! Thou art He Who hath enriched praise with verses of glorification, Who hath manifested it in the land of mystery, Who hath caused it to warble with verses of attraction before Thee in the heaven of Sinai, Who hath raised it from slumber on the Day of Grandeur before the throne of immortality. Verily, Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. I have ever been among those who remember Thee. Praise be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee, the Most High, the Most Great.

O my God! Were it not for Thy mercy, I would be as nothing, existent before Thy presence; were it not for Thy grace, I would not be even an atom, known before Thee. My gaze is fixed upon the manifestation of Thy countenance, my aspiration is toward the beauty of Thy eternity, my remembrance is of Thy manifest Being, and my song is of Thy holy Presence. How sweet is Thy remembrance, O Beloved! How sweet is Thy praise, O Desired One! How exalted is Thy right, O Dreaded One! How glorious is Thy victory, O Sought After One! There is no God but Thee.

Glorified art Thou! I am verily of them that are lowly before Thee. O my Beloved and my Heart’s Desire! Since this day is among the days of Thy sovereign might, I bear witness unto Thee as Thou hast testified concerning Thyself before all things, that Thou art God, the Single, the Self-Subsisting, the Alone, the Ancient of Days. There is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever been what Thou art; nothing changeth Thee, and naught altereth Thee. The mystics have failed to know even the most insignificant sign from among the signs of Thy sovereign manifestations, the wayfarers have strayed far from perceiving a single dewdrop from the holy emanations of Thy countenance, and they who remember Thee have lost all hope of discerning any token of the intimacy of Thy presence.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. I have no beloved save Thee, and no goal except Thee. Glorified art Thou! How could aught exist besides Thee, that my love should be for other than Thy beauty, or that there should be any witness save Thee that I should prefer the vision of any face but Thine? Blinded be the eye that seeth not the garments of Thy beauty, silenced be the tongue that readeth not the verses of Thy grandeur, deafened be the ears that hear not the melodies of Thy glory, and broken be the feet that hasten not towards Thee with Thy help.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord! Through Thy grace I bear witness, before the beauty of Thy sovereignty, to Thy oneness, and I acknowledge the signs of Thy might, and I am certain of the letters of Thy divine essence, that Thou art God. Thou hast ever been; I have seen naught except the pure radiance of Thy singular countenance, and I have heard naught save the pure attractive voice of Thy glory. There is no God but Thee.

O my God! Do I behold Thee upon the throne of Thy mercy, or do I see Thee in the heaven of Thy might? Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! We praise Thee, for Thou art sanctified above all words, and verily Thou art exalted above all that the people of the divine realm mention concerning Thee in the kingdom, and Thou art hallowed above all wherewith the enraptured ones glorify Thee in the earth of grandeur, and Thou art elevated above all wherewith the people of the realm of divinity describe Thee before Thy presence, and Thou art magnified above all wherewith they who dwell in realms of glory sanctify Thee in the earth.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. How can I describe Thee, O my God, through my mention of Thee by that which overfloweth from me? For this befitteth not Thy station, nor is it worthy of Thy holy exaltation, nor deserveth it Thy glorious majesty, nor can it ascend to the seat of Thy nearness, nor rise to the heaven of Thy praise. For Thou, O my God, cannot be described save by Thyself, nor characterized except by Thee, nor known except through Thee, nor mentioned save by that wherewith Thou hast described Thyself. We are but Thy weak servants, powerless to do aught in Thy dominion.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Thou art the Mighty, the All-Wise. Thine alone is the Kingdom; there is no God but Thee, the Lord of all worlds.

O Thou Ever-Living One [hayy]! The Second Prayer in Testimony [shahadah] to God, mighty and glorious be He, then for trust in God and His bounties

In the name of God, the Most Manifest, the Most Manifest

Glorified be He Who hath created the heavens and the earth by His command. Verily, they who believe in God and His signs, these shall be gathered unto God. My Lord! I testify unto Thee, even as Thou dost testify unto Thyself before all things, that Thy Essence is the pure Camphor which none hath known from the beginning of eternity, nor can aught describe it from this Station of the Mountain. I bear witness unto Thy Identity, which is pure Essence, for no thing in the realm of origins can make mention of it, nor can any soul in this most ancient and enduring firmament characterize it. Then I bear witness, O my God, that Thou art our Lord, there is no God but Him, and He hath ever been as He was, without mention of aught, and will ever be without description of aught, for the description of contingent things before Him is pure falsehood, and the characterization of existent things in His presence is sheer calumny, and the mention of beings unto Him is absolute polytheism. Glorified, glorified be He! There is no God but Him. He is, verily, the Most Exalted, the All-Praised.

O my God! How can I describe Thee, after knowing that description is forbidden before Thy presence? How can I make mention of Thee, after being assured that mention is cut off from Thy court? How can I characterize Thee, after the way of attributes is barred from Thy countenance? How can I praise Thee, after praise is negated from Thy direction? How can I call upon Thee with hope after Thou hast removed me from Thy nearness? Yet how can I not call upon Thee when Thou hast declared in Thy Book “Call upon Me and I will answer you”? So here am I, as Thou hast called me, I call upon Thee; here am I, as Thou hast made me hear, I cry unto Thee; here am I, as Thou hast taught me, I commune with Thee—for Thou, Thou art my Beloved; for Thou, Thou art my Support and my Hope; and Thou, Thou art my Refuge and my Shelter. There is no God but Thee, and Thou art the Shelter of the fearful.

I bear witness before Thee, O God, even as Thou hast testified concerning Thyself, that Thy Will standeth above all things, that Thy Purpose is supreme over all things, that Thy Decree penetrateth all things, and that Thy Power extendeth over the creation of all things, such that nothing in the heavens or on the earth or between them can escape the grasp of Thy power, and nothing in the kingdom of command or creation or below them can elude Thee. Thou judgest with truth, and nothing can frustrate Thee. There is no God but Thee, and Thou art at every moment engaged in a fresh manifestation.

Verily, there is no God but Thee! O Thou besides Whom there is no God! Upon Thee do I rely through Thy Hahut, in Thee do I seek refuge through Thy Lahut, upon Thee do I depend through Thy Mahut, and unto Thee do I cling through Thy Yaqut. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee! Thou art He Who manifested the Letter Tha’ [thamarih] in the first cycle, and Thou art He Who enriched it with the verses of praise in this new dispensation, and Thou art He Who named it in this surging, glorious sea, and Thou art He Who designated it as the First Youth.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee! I beseech Thee by Thy light that Thou show mercy unto me through Thy grace and assist me with Thy hosts, that thereby Thy Cause may be exalted, Thy beauty may shine forth, and the light of Thy praise may radiate. Verily, like unto the letter Tha is Thy servant, in the grasp of Thy power. Draw him unto the sacred court of Thy presence and give him to drink from the cup of detachment by the hands of Thy presence. Verily, Thou art the Best of the merciful, and Thou art the Best of the gracious, and nothing can frustrate Thee, and Thou art the All-Glorious, the Magnificent, and Thou art nearer to all things than all things, for there is no God but Thee.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God, O my Beloved! I have ever been among those who bow down before Thee. Thou knowest, O my God, what afflictions have descended upon me, and Thou dost witness what hardships have come to pass, and Thou beholdest what adversities have befallen me. I testify that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Unto Thee belong glory and radiance, unto Thee belong the clouds and sublimity, unto Thee belong manifestation in the letter Ha, and unto Thee belong concealment in the throne of eternity, for there is no God but Thee. Glory be unto Thee, O my God, and praise be unto Thee!

How then, O my God, can I remain upon this mountain after all that hath befallen me and descended upon me? And whenever tribulations increased, my heart was drawn unto Thee with longing, and whenever afflictions descended, my very essence was effaced in Thee with complete effacement, and whenever hardships appeared, my soul was raised unto Thee in perfect detachment. What is more exalted than Thee through Thee! What is more radiant than Thee through Thee! What is more sublime than Thee through Thee! What is more glorious than Thee through Thee! What is sweeter than Thee through Thee! What is more hidden than Thee through Thee! For verily Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Glory be unto Thee, I am of those who remember Thee, and all praise belongeth unto Thee alone, Lord of all worlds.

Part 2: “O Self-Subsisting One [qayyum]! The Third Prayer…”

O Self-Subsisting One [qayyum]! The Third Prayer of Supplication and Consolation [al-su’al wa’l-ta’ziyyih] to God, exalted be His glory

In the Name of God, the Single, the All-Encompassing

O God, I beseech Thee by Thy Unity at its most singular—and all Thy Unity is unique—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Lordship. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Perpetuity at its most enduring—and all Thy Perpetuity is everlasting—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Perpetuity. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Praiseworthy Nature at its most laudable—and all Thy Praiseworthy Nature is praiseworthy—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Praiseworthy Nature. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Ruby-like Essence at its most perfect—and all Thy Ruby-like Essence is perfect—Glory be unto Thee, O God!

I beseech Thee by all Thy Ruby-like Essence. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Sanctity at its most holy—and all Thy Sanctity is sanctified—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Sanctity. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Right Hand at its most conquering—and all Thy Right Hand is conquering—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Right Hand. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Descriptive Power at its most descriptive—and all Thy Descriptive Power is describing—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Descriptive Power. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Glory at its most glorious—and all Thy Glory is glorious—Glory be unto Thee, O God!

I beseech Thee by all Thy Glory. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Truth at its most ancient—and all Thy Truth is ancient—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Truth. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Camphor-like Nature at its most pure—and all Thy Camphor-like Nature is pure—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Camphor-like Nature. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Sovereignty at its most dominant—and all Thy Sovereignty is dominant—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Greatness. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Justice at its most just—and all Thy Justice is just—Glory be unto Thee, O God!

I beseech Thee by all Thy Justice. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Divine Nature at its most majestic—and all Thy Divine Nature is majestic—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Divine Nature. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Self-Subsistence at its most transcendent—and all Thy Self-Subsistence is transcendent—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Self-Subsistence. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Eternity at its most eternal—and all Thy Eternity is eternal—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy Eternity. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy Oneness at its most unified—and all Thy Oneness is one—Glory be unto Thee, O God!

I beseech Thee by all Thy Oneness. Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by Thy All-Glorious Nature at its most sanctified—and all Thy All-Glorious Nature is sanctified—Glory be unto Thee, O God! I beseech Thee by all Thy All-Glorious Nature.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by every sign in Thy Book, and by every token on the Day of Reckoning, and by every indication behind that veil, and by every manifestation from Thee in the countenance of the Glorious One, that Thou show mercy unto me through Thy bounty, shelter me through Thy might, forgive me through Thy mercy, and separate me from that which prevents me from attaining unto the presence of Thy countenance, and protect me from that which keeps me distant from Thy court, and draw me unto the beauty of Thy holiness, and bring me before the face of Thy Self-Subsistence, and cause me to forget every remembrance save the remembrance of Thy Being, and inspire me with the signs of Thy oneness, and assist me with the hosts of Thy victory, and send down upon me, O my God, Thine angels in every condition through the glory of Thy manifestation. For verily Thou art my Beloved, verily Thou art my Lord, verily Thou art my Master, verily Thou art my Hope. All hope hath been cut off from me save in Thee, for Thou art my hope and Thou art my desire, as there is no beloved for me besides Thee, nor any true goal other than Thee.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Glorified art Thou! I have ever been of those who remember Thee. O my God! Behold the beauty of Thy glory and witness the majesty of Thy grandeur, and know what hath been sent down upon Thy chosen ones, and observe what hath been decreed for Thy loved ones, and reckon what hath befallen Thy countenance. Have mercy upon us through Thy mercy and assist us through Thy help, for in Thy hands are the destinies of all things. Thou ordainest what Thou pleasest and doest what Thou willest. Thou art praised in Thy actions and thanked in Thy victory.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee, as there is no God but Thee. Glorified art Thou! I have ever been of those who remember Thee. In Thee I have recognized Thy unity, O my God, from all else; in Thee I have sanctified Thee, O my Desire, from all besides Thee; in Thee I have purified Thee, O my Lord, from all except Thee. Therefore, I glorify Thee with such glorification as would cause the sincere ones to return to Thy countenance and would count the pure-hearted among those beneath the throne of Thy mercy, for Thou art God, there is no God but Thee, and all prostrate themselves before Thy face, and all remember Thee before the throne of Thy mercy, that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Verily, we are of those who are struck with awe in Thy presence. Thou judgest with truth and Thou art the Best of judges. Nothing in the heavens or on earth can frustrate Thee, and Thou art the Most High, the All-Wise. All praise belongeth unto Thee alone, O Lord of the worlds.

O decree [hukm]! The fourth prayer in glorification and praise [al-tasbih wa’l-tahmid] of God, exalted be His glory

In the name of God, the One, the Mighty

Glorified is He besides Whom there is no God, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting! O my God! Thine is the Countenance and the Glory, Thine is the Might and the Praise, Thine is the Visage and the Grandeur, Thine is the Raiment and the Light, Thine is the Power and the Perpetuity, Thine is the Dominion and the Beginning, Thine is the Sovereignty and the Decree! Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee, and by Thy praise, I shall forever and eternally praise Thee through the duration of Thy Will, and I shall praise Thee with manifest and enduring praise through the revelation of Thy Purpose.

Unto Thee be praise with hidden praise through the manifestation of Thy Self-Sufficiency, unto Thee be praise, exalted and foremost, through the exaltation of the light of Thy Oneness, unto Thee be praise, ultimate, through the majesty of Thy divine sanctity, unto Thee be praise, enduring, through the manifestation of Thy glorious holiness, unto Thee be praise, existing, through the duration of Thine Essence, unto Thee be praise, essential, through the perpetuity of Thy glorious eternity, unto Thee be praise, eternal, through the dominion of Thy holy tenderness, unto Thee be praise, everlasting, through the sublimity of Thy glorious bounty, unto Thee be praise, elemental, through the manifestations of Thy holy light, unto Thee be praise, abstract, through the signs of Thy luminous utterance, unto Thee be praise, crystalline, through the ultimate beginning of Thy Self-Subsistence, unto Thee be praise, pure, through the final end of Thy manifest glory, unto Thee be praise, divine, through the commencement of Thy holy might, unto Thee be praise, absolute, through the conditions of Thy glorious sanctity.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee! Glory be to Thee and exalted art Thou! Glory be to Thee and hallowed art Thou! Glory be to Thee and sanctified art Thou! Glory be to Thee and elevated art Thou! Glory be to Thee and magnified art Thou! Glory be to Thee and great art Thou! Glory be unto Thee, for there is no God but Thee!

Glory be unto Thee, O my God, and by Thy praise, I am he who, O my God, desired to help Thee though I helped Thee not, and I am he who, O my God, desired to praise Thee though I praised Thee not, and I am he who, O my God, desired to thank Thee though I thanked Thee not, and I am he who, O my God, desired to describe Thee though I described Thee not, and I am he who, O my God, desired to remember Thee though I remembered Thee not. When Thou didst call me with the Call of Command from the Mount of Decree, Thou didst efface all around my heart and I hastened to the throne of Thy mercy.

When Thou didst call me with the Call of Glory from the Throne of Perpetuity, my remembrance was awakened before Thy holy might. When Thou didst inspire me with the verses of Thy unity, my tongue warbled in remembrance of Thine essence. When Thou didst attract me by Thy countenance, my conscience was drawn to ascend to the gate of Thy grace. When Thou didst illumine me with Thy lights, the signs of Thy holiness shone forth unto me. When Thou didst choose me for Thy help, my tongue sang and my lips moved in remembrance of Thy lordship.

For Thou knowest, O my Master, that I call Thy loved ones only that they might help Thee with their souls and their possessions, and Thou, O my God, hast enriched all through Thy bounty and taught them what Thou didst desire of Thy grace and mercy, and made known unto them what Thou didst wish of the hidden mysteries of Thy secret through the hands of Thy chosen ones.

Glorified and exalted art Thou! How can I praise the beauty of Thy Countenance or describe the light of Thy Face, when verily I am powerless to praise Thee or describe Thee? Glorified art Thou, O my God, and praise be unto Thee! Thou knowest that I am alone and have no helper save Thee, and no living soul can aid me. I have delivered Thy Cause unto Thy servants who paid no heed to my transgressions, for they were weak. They have corrupted my cause and kindled the fire of sedition, until I departed from among them and traversed the wilderness and mountains, until I descended upon this mountain whose people are ignorant. I dwelt before Thy Countenance, revealing what Thou didst manifest unto me and composing what Thou didst send down to me.

Glorified art Thou, and praise be unto Thee! Thou knowest that I was alone and had no one with me to help me. And Thou, O my Lord, deliver me as Thou hast promised me, then aid me as Thou hast called me. By Thy truth, O my Lord, grief hath encompassed me from every direction, yet my turning to the Countenance of Thy Lordship is but as a bird returning eastward to its nest. By Thy greatness, O Thou Who art my desire, they have said what they have said and hurt Thy loved ones as they have hurt, and they did this only against the beauty of Thy holiness and only against the Countenance of Thy oneness.

Glorified art Thou, glorified art Thou! Art Thou not the most worthy to show mercy to Thy loved ones? Art Thou not the most worthy to show grace to Thy chosen ones? The servants harm them for Thy sake and oppose them. And there was none in the kingdom to help Thee. So I followed Thy command and delivered Thy Cause to Thy loved ones for victory in Thy land, but they, O my God, are few, and Thou art the Lord of Majesty, while I am but an abject servant and find no path before Thee. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Glory be unto Thee! I am among the mindful ones. O God! Aid Thy loved ones with Thy victory and triumph, and cause them to prevail over all who are on earth through Thy might and power, for in Thy hands is the kingdom of all things.

Thou aidest whom Thou willest with Thy hosts and assisteth whom Thou willest by Thy command. We are all Thy servants within the grasp of Thy power and in the right hand of Thy will. If Thou willest, be wrathful, and if Thou desirest, show mercy. Verily Thou art more merciful to all things than all things. There is no God but Thee. Glory be unto Thee! We are but as nothing before Thee. For Thou, O my God, art nearer to me than all things. If Thou seizest me with justice, Thou art not unjust, and if Thou helpest me through grace, Thou art merciful to me.

Part 3: “Glorified art Thou, O my God, and praised…”

Glorified art Thou, O my God, and praised be Thou! I exalt Thee above all that hath ever mentioned Thee, and sanctify Thee beyond every description of Thee, and magnify Thee above all that hath ever known Thee. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Thou art He Who is known through signs, Who is described through tokens, Who is mentioned through attributes, Who is beloved for His purposes, Who is desired for His ends, Who is feared for His beginnings. Nothing can know Thee, nothing can describe Thee, nothing can mention Thee, and nothing can prove Thee. All are bewildered and know Thee not, all are at a loss and describe Thee not, all are distant and mention Thee not, all fall short and praise Thee not. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee, Who hath barred the way to Thine expression and prevented the path to Thy knowledge.

Glorified, glorified art Thou! How, O my God, can I ever know Thee when the path, in its utmost breadth, is blocked, utterly blocked unto Thee? How, O Thou object of my hopes, can I mention Thee when the way, in its most impregnable form, is severed, completely severed before Thee? How, O Thou Beloved, can I praise Thee when attribution, in its most exalted degree, is forbidden, wholly forbidden in Thy presence? How, O my Lord, can I describe Thee when description, in its highest form, is rejected, entirely rejected before Thy throne? How, O Thou my Ultimate End, can I extol Thee when eulogy, in its most elevated station, is banished, utterly banished before the lights of Thy sanctity?

How can I fail to mention Thee when my heart hath been filled with longing to mention what hath befallen and been ordained for me? By Thy glory, O my God! My heart is not content to stand before Thee unless I mention Thee in every moment, before every moment, and after every moment. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. I have ever been of those who supplicate.

O my God! I have turned to Thee with Thy countenance and have been drawn to Thee by Thy presence. I speak naught but of Thee, describe naught but Thee, mention naught but Thee, and praise naught but Thee, for there exists nothing else that I could mention besides Thee. Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou art He Who hath established a measure for Thy recognition. Whoso transgresseth it hath denied Thee and Thy signs, and his abode shall be hellfire, wherein he shall be among those who are cast down.

O my God! When Thou didst desire Thy recognition by the people, Thou didst send unto them Thy Messengers and taught them Thy recognition, and directed them unto Thyself. Yet few are the believers and many are the idolaters. And when Thou didst desire to manifest Thy Cause, Thou didst reveal among them a sign from Thy signs, whereupon most people denied and showed no spirit, all fleeing from Thee and wandering far astray. Yet Thou, O my God, desired naught for them save what was good. All Thy command concerning the appearance of the Messengers and the revelation of the Books was a bounty from Thee unto them without any merit on their part, but they know this not. They deny Thy right and the right of Thy chosen ones, show pride before Thee, turn away from Thee, and manifest great haughtiness.

O my God! Thou knowest that my life hath been embittered by what I have witnessed of hardship, my body hath been shaken by what hath descended upon it of supreme abasement, my heart hath been troubled by what hath befallen it of tribulation, my ears have been deafened by what they have heard of complaints, and my heart hath been saddened by what hath been spread before it of adversity. Thou art most worthy of showing mercy unto him who calleth upon Thee with hope, and Thou art most worthy of bestowing favor upon him who supplicateth Thee with prayer.

Glory be unto Thee, O Beloved! If I have sinned, Thou art the All-Forgiving; if I have erred, Thou art the Concealer; if I have disobeyed, Thou art the All-Choosing. Glory be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee. Thou art the Best of the merciful ones, and all praise belongeth unto Thee alone, the Lord of all worlds.

O justice [ʿadl]! Prayer unto him who seeketh victory and unity and sanctification [al-nasr wa’l-tawhid wa’l-taqdis] for God

In the Name of God, the King, the All-Encompassing

Praise be to God Who distinguisheth between people with truth while they differ in their interpretations. God beareth witness that there is no God but Him, and that they who believe in the signs of their Lord are they who shall be gathered unto God.

O Lord, O Beloved! How can I mention Thee in this my station before the veils of Thy countenance, and how can I describe Thee in this my seat before the beauty of Thy presence? Thou knowest my secret, and my position is manifest unto Thee. Nothing in the heavens and earth is hidden from Thy knowledge, and nothing in the kingdom of command and creation is beyond Thy reach. I bear witness, and all things and all who bear witness before Thy throne of sovereignty bear witness, that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever been without the mention of aught else, and Thou shalt ever be the One Who remaineth after the passing of all things, for there is no God but Thee, and Thou art the Lord of all worlds.

O my God! Thou seest what hath descended upon Thy loved ones, and beholdest all that hath befallen Thy chosen ones, and knowest all that hath come to pass among Thy creatures. I beseech Thee by Thine ancient Being, Thy lofty Presence, and Thy beauteous Countenance to aid those who have detached themselves unto Thee, placed their trust in Thee, and held fast to Thy cord. There is no God but Thee, and unto Thee is the final return.

In whom can I place my hope, O my God, save in the garments of Thy Presence? Whom can I call upon other than the Manifestation of Thy glory? Whither can I turn except to the sanctuary of Thy sovereignty? Where can I go but to the realm of Thy mercy? Whither can I flee when there is no refuge save Thee? Where can I seek shelter when there is no shelter but Thee? To whom can I appeal when there is no protector but Thee? From whom can I seek when there is no answerer but Thee, and none to be beseeched save Thee?

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee, and verily I am one of those who repent. Thou art He Who hath honored me with the signs of Thy might, Who hath manifested me before the beauty of Thy sovereignty, Who hath entrusted me with the holy call of Thy Self, and Who hath commanded me to seek the fire of Thy love. There is no God but Thee. Thine is the beauty of eternity, Thine the majesty of antiquity, Thine the mystery of Being, and Thine the innermost secret of Reality. There is no Beloved but Thee, no One to be feared save Thee.

There is no God but Thee. I bear witness, O my God, O my Beloved, as Thou bearest witness unto Thyself before all things, that Thou art the First before anything came into being, and Thou art the Last after which there shall be nothing in Thy dominion. Thy most exalted Word is:

“Whose is the Kingdom this Day? It is God’s, the One, the All-Compelling!”

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord! Aid us through Thy grace; verily Thou art the Sovereign, the All-Choosing.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. My gaze is fixed upon the garments of Thy Presence, my remembrance is of Thy merciful countenance, my concern is for the light of Thy Face. Glory be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee. I beseech Thee to aid me through Thy mercy, to have compassion on me through Thy loving-kindness, to protect me from that which befitteth not the loftiness of Thy majesty, to separate me from all that preventeth me from beholding the garments of Thy Presence, to hold me back from that which befitteth not the sublimity of Thy station, and to raise me unto Thee through the glory of Thy might.

I am the poor one, the needy, the lowly one who hopeth in Thy grace, who feareth Thy justice, who findeth rest in Thy companionship, and who abideth before Thy Presence. I beseech Thee, O Lord, O Thou Who art the Lord of Glory and Perpetuity, O Thou Who art the Possessor of Grandeur and Majesty, by all the names Thou possesseth in the Throne of the celestial realm, by all Thy examples in the Tablet of Glory, by all Thy manifestations in the Countenance of Meeting, to have mercy upon Thy loved ones, to aid them through Thy mercy, and to gather them with Thee in the sanctuary of holiness before Thy Presence. For these are Thy servants, in Thy grasp. Thou doest what Thou willest. Thou art praised in Thy deeds, thanked for Thy bounties, obeyed in Thy sovereignty, and beloved in Thy dominion.

There is no beloved save the Beauty of Thy Holiness, no answerer besides the Manifestation of Thy Sovereignty. In whom can I hope besides Thee, O my Beloved? Whom can I call upon save Thee, O my Desire? For none besides Thee is anything, that I might ask from them what I desire of Thy grace. They are but the shadow of a shadow, and are not worthy of mention before Thee.

Glorified art Thou, glorified art Thou! Am I not, O my God, turned in devotion toward Thy countenance? Am I not drawn to Thy presence? Am I not hopeful of Thy grace? Am I not fearful of Thy justice? Am I not apprehensive of Thy forbearance? Am I not distressed by Thy decree? Am I not terrified by Thy command? Am I not in awe of Thy destiny and Thy tribulation? For Thine is the sovereignty alone, there is no God but Thee. Blessed art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Hallowed art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Exalted art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Magnified art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Sanctified art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Unique art Thou, there is no God but Thee. One art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Glorified art Thou, there is no God but Thee.

O my God! I am he who desired to humble himself before Thee, and I shall surely humble myself. I am he who desired to help Thee, and I shall surely help Thee. I am he who desired to describe Thee, and I shall surely describe Thee. I am he who desired to remember Thee, and I shall surely remember Thee. I am he who desired to thank Thee, and I shall surely thank Thee. I am he who desired to praise Thee, and I shall surely praise Thee. I am he who desired to prostrate before Thee, and I shall surely prostrate. I am he who desired to be humble before Thee, and I shall surely be humble. I am he who desired to show reverence to Thee, and I shall surely show reverence. There is no God but Thee.

Thine is the bounty and the grandeur, Thine the majesty and the oneness, Thine the beauty and the awe. There is no God but Thee. Thine is the kingdom and the dominion, Thine the grandeur and the might, Thine the awe and the ruby, Thine the power and the human realm, Thine the oneness and the divine realm, Thine the glory and the realm of revelation, Thine the sovereignty and the heavenly bodies, Thine the seven in the realm of essence, Thine the loftiness in the throne of magnificence, Thine the attraction in the land of rapture, Thine the eternity in the tablet of pre-existence.

Glorified art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Glorified, glorified art Thou! To whom can I turn besides Thee? Whom can I call upon other than Thee? Whom can I summon except Thee? Thou art the Answerer and none beside Thee, Thou art the One petitioned and none other than Thee, Thou art the Beloved and none equal to Thee. Glory be unto Thee! I was among those who prostrated. Glory be unto Thee! I was among those who remembered. Glory be unto Thee! I was among the humble ones. Glory be unto Thee! I was among the reverent ones. Glory be unto Thee! I was among the supplicants. Glory be unto Thee! I was among the wrongdoers. Glory be unto Thee! I was among the penitent. Glory be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee, and verily Thou art the Lord of the worlds.

Part 4: “O my God! Thou art He Who made…”

O my God! Thou art He Who made me speak before the throne of Thy mercy, and Thou art He Who enriched me with the verses of attraction, union and compassion before the countenance of Thy face, and Thou art He Who made me victorious through the mystery of the line before the ocean of Thy oneness, and Thou art He Who created me as a light among lights in the midst of mountains on the right of the throne of the letter Qaf near the salamander of the fire of Sinai before the light of manifestation at the shirt of Thy countenance. There is no God but Thee, there is no God but Thee! How can I be patient, O my Beloved, in this matter on that mountain after Thou hast removed the religions, and how can I be silent before Thee in the sickness of my soul in this dark night after Thou art the Remover of infirmities? Glory be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee. Thine is the countenance and the beauty, Thine the presence and the majesty, Thine the mercy and the grace, Thine the might and the justice, for Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most High, and Thou art the Possessor of power in every condition.

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Verily, I am among those who prostrate before Thee. I bear witness, and all things bear witness, to that which Thou dost testify concerning Thyself before the creation of all things: that Thou art too exalted to be known through aught else but Thee, that Thou art too sublime to be described by any save Thee, and that Thou art too sanctified to be mentioned except through Thee. I declare Thy remoteness from this and proclaim Thy sanctity above that, for Thou canst not be described except through the beauty of Thy Self-Subsistence, nor canst Thou be known save through the garments of Thy Lordship.

I beseech Thee, O my God, O my Beloved, by all the names that are with Thee in the Tablet of Eternity, by all the signs that are with Thee in the Mount of Mystery, by all the blood that hath been shed in Thy path, O Lord of the people of eternity, by all the bodies that have been cast upon the earth, O Lord of might and grandeur, and by all the souls that have ascended unto Thee in the throne of glory, to bless the Bayan and its people with the majesty, divinity, unity, sublimity, rapture, consciousness, effacement and ecstasy that are their due, and to punish those who have waxed proud against it with might, domination, power, wrath, force, grandeur, strength and sovereignty. For Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thine is the awe and the grandeur, Thine the sovereignty and eternity, for there is no God but Thee. Thou givest sovereignty to whom Thou willest and takest it from whom Thou willest.

I beseech Thee, O my God, to aid those who detach themselves wholly unto Thee, who are drawn to Thee through their love, who turn away from all else but Thee, who place their trust in Thee, who hasten unto Thee, who seek Thee as their means, who humble themselves before Thee, who are submissive unto Thee, and who mention none but Thee. For Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Verily, Thou hast ever been beyond the description of anything and wilt ever remain, throughout the eternity of eternities, beyond the attributes of anything. There is no God but Thee. We have no hope in the earth save Thee, O Thou Who hast victory in every circumstance, O Thou Who hast hosts at every moment. Aid us through Thy bounty on earth and deliver us from the hands of the enemies of Thy Self, and have mercy upon us through Thy mercy. Are we not Thy servants and in Thy grasp? Art Thou not the most merciful unto Thy chosen ones? Art Thou not the most gracious unto Thy loved ones?

Glory be unto Thee! Thou art the Most Glorious and Most Resplendent, Thou art the Most Mighty and Most Exalted. We have not the power to ask of Thee, for Thou knowest our secrets and witnesseth what is within our souls. Verily, when Thou willest a thing, Thou dost but say unto it “Be!” and it is before Thy power, the existing one. O my God! Aid us according to what Thou hast promised us and have mercy upon us according to what Thou hast deposited within us. For Thou art God, there is no God but Thee, and Thou wilt never fail in Thy promise.

I bear witness before Thee, O my God, and before those who bear witness in Thy presence, that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever been Living, Self-Subsisting, Single, Everlasting, One, Unique, Independent, Alone, the Raiser, the Impregnable, and Thou wilt ever continue to be as Thou hast been before. There is no God but Thee. I bear witness before Thee, O my God, to that which Thou dost testify concerning Thyself before all things: that Thou art He from Whose grasp of power nothing can escape, whether in the heavens or on the earth or between them, and verily Thou hast knowledge of all things.

O my God! I call upon Thee at the gate of Thy glory. Aid me, therefore, through Thy bounty, raise me to the heaven of Thy holiness, draw me unto the court of Thy nearness, and separate me not from the seats of Thy Cause. For Thou art God; there is no God but Thee. Thou art independent of all things, and nothing escapeth Thee, whether in the Supreme Heaven or in the realm of divinity, whether in the heaven or in the empire of grandeur, whether on the Throne or in the kingdom of names, whether on earth or in the world of mortality.

Glorified art Thou! Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee. Praise be to Thee for that which Thou decreest through the Tree of the letter Ta, and praise be to Thee for that which Thou ordainest through the Leaf of the letter Ba, and praise be to Thee for that which Thou causest to flow as destiny upon the Branch of the letter Ha. Praise be to Thee—praise essential and everlasting as Thy Being; praise be to Thee—praise crystalline and exalted as Thy glory; praise be to Thee—praise abstract and eternal as Thy Essence; praise be to Thee—praise pure and lofty as Thy majesty; praise be to Thee—praise primary and supreme as Thy Command; praise be to Thee—praise final and holy as Thy sanctity; praise be to Thee—praise unsullied and radiant as Thy nearness; praise be to Thee—praise inward and celestial as Thy wisdom.

Glorified art Thou, O God, and praised be Thou! I seek Thine intercession before the Manifestation of Thy Self-Subsistence. I take refuge in Thee at the dawning of Thy light, and I seek asylum with Thee in the glory of Thy holiness, that Thou mayest aid me through the light of Thy majesty. Verily, Thou aidest whom Thou willest as Thou willest. None can reverse Thy decree, and none can thwart Thy destiny. Thou art ever thanked for Thy Cause and ever obeyed in Thy deeds.

Have mercy, then, O God, upon those who believe in Thee and in Thy signs. Forgive them through Thy mercy and aid them with Thy hosts. Verily, Thou art God; there is no God but Thee, and unto Thee is the final return. And punish, O God, those who deny Thee and Thy days, and send down upon them the fire of Thy might and power. Verily, Thou art praised in Thy deeds, thanked in Thy Cause, and obeyed in Thy decree. There is no God but Thee, and Thou art powerful over all things.

O my Lord! When Thou didst entrust me with Thy call in the Tree of the letter Ha’ [=year five], Thou didst thereby efface all signs, and I called upon Thee before the Manifestation of Thy Holiness. When Thou didst cause me to hear Thy melodies in the essence of the letter Ba’, I was awakened by those verses and hastened to the court of Thy Self-Subsistence, that I might thereby aid Thee and seek vengeance upon Thine enemies, and slay all for Thy sake. For Thou art the best of helpers, and Thou art the most merciful of the merciful, and Thou art the most gracious of the gracious. There is no God but Thee, no Beloved but Thee, no Desired One but Thee. Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee, and Thou art the Lord of all the worlds.

O Most Holy One [quddus]! The sixth prayer concerning the thirty letters, in supplication and entreaty [al-salat wa’l-su’al] unto God, mighty in His might

In the name of God, the Single, He Whose help is implored

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name O God, then by Thy Name O Beneficent, then by Thy Name O Ever-Forgiving, then by Thy Name O Steadfast, then by Thy Name O Generous, then by Thy Name O Ever-Living, then by Thy Name O All-Informed, then by Thy Name O Eternal, then by Thy Name O Creator, then by Thy Name O Lord, then by Thy Name O Cultivator, then by Thy Name O All-Glorious, then by Thy Name O All-Praised, then by Thy Name O Patient, then by Thy Name O Guarantor, then by Thy Name O Pure One, then by Thy Name O Manifest One, then by Thy Name O Most High, then by Thy Name O Succourer, then by Thy Name O Single One, then by Thy Name O Self-Subsisting, then by Thy Name O Essential Being, then by Thy Name O Gracious One, then by Thy Name O Help in Peril, then by Thy Name O Light, then by Thy Name O Guardian, then by Thy Name O He, then by Thy Name O Most Kind, then by Thy Name O Pre-existent One, then by Thy Name O Certitude, to send Thy blessings upon the Tree of Affirmation, from its beginning to its end, its outer to its inner being, its branches and its leaves, its fruits and its offshoots, and all that pertaineth unto it.

Verily, Thou art omnipotent in Thy dominion, sovereign in Thy command, and supreme in Thy decree. None can alter what Thou hast ordained, none can prevent what Thou hast prescribed, and none can change what Thou hast decreed. Thou judgest with truth and none can judge Thee; Thou rulest with justice and none can rule over Thee. Thou art the Sovereign Who cannot be frustrated, the Ever-Living Who dieth not, the Omnipotent Who is never powerless, the All-Knowing Who forgetteth not, the Manifest Who is never hidden, the Self-Subsisting Who slumbereth not, and the Sanctified Who can never be wronged.

Glorified art Thou, there is no God but Thee. Send down, O my God, upon them all the blessings that flow from Thy divine attributes and signs, from the ultimates of Thy creative, originative and conquering power, and from all that Thou wert and wilt ever be in Thy station of might, the sublimity of Thy glory and the excellence of Thy bounty. O God, chastise those who have denied Thy truth, repudiated Thy Cause, and sought to extinguish Thy light with their mouths; yet God will perfect His light, though the infidels abhor it.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! How can I extol the attributes of Thy divine Countenance when I was as naught before Thee, and how can I describe the light of Thy Face when I was unworthy of that which beseemeth Thy station of might and the sublimity of Thy glory? Glorified and exalted art Thou! Thou knowest what hath been ordained for me and hath witnessed what hath befallen me, whereof none besides Thee can comprehend, none but Thee can know, and none except Thee can enumerate.

Glory be unto Thee and exalted art Thou! There is no God but Thee. I bear witness, and all things and all who are in Thy presence among the witnesses bear witness, that Thou art powerful over all things and mighty over everything. Knowledge of Thee is a bounty from Thy presence and a mercy from Thee. There is no God but Thee, for Thou hast ever been mighty in all deeds and inaccessible in every matter. Glory be unto Thee! There is no God but Thee. And verily, the more tribulations increased upon me, the more I increased in wonderment of Thee.

Whenever the attraction of the heaven appeared in the countenance of the letter “Ha,” I turned toward it in a state of attraction. Whenever the sun of destiny rose, I awakened unto it in full consciousness. Whenever the star of might dawned from the throne of being, I was effaced in it with complete effacement. Whenever affliction arose, I turned to Thee in hope. Whenever destiny was fulfilled, I sought from Thee supplication. Whenever harm touched me, I communed with Thee with new creation in fulfillment. Whenever calamity came upon me, I called upon Thee, the Praised One in deeds and the Thanked One in attributes. Glory be unto Thee! O Thou besides Whom there is no God! Glory be unto Thee! Verily, I have been of the wrongdoers.