BB00097

Part 1: “Glorified art Thou, O my God! I testify…”

In the Name of God, the Most Vast, the Most Holy

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I testify by all things unto Thee that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee, alone with no partner. Thine is the Kingdom and the Dominion, then the Might and the Omnipotence, then the Power and the Divine Realm, then the Strength and the Sapphire, then the Sovereignty and the Human Realm, then the Glory and the Majesty, then the Countenance and the Perfection, then the Face and the Beauty, then the Grandeur and the Independence, then the Pride and the Sublimity, then the Mercy and the Grace, then the Authority and the Justice, then the Similitude and the Examples, then the Power and the Deeds, then the Loftiness and the Exaltation, then the Joy and the Gladness, then the Might and the Invincibility, then the Love and the Detachment.

Then by all that is seen and unseen from the highest heights to the primal atom, I testify with certainty that Thou hast been independent of all contingent beings and self-sufficient above all existing things. All are created through knowledge of Thee and are remembered through faith in what Thou hast revealed unto Thy Proof. Thou art the Ever-Living Who dieth not, the Sovereign Who passeth not away, the Just Who wrongeth not, the King Who changeth not, the Single One from Whose grasp nothing escapeth. Thou givest life and causest death, and causest death and givest life. Verily Thou art the Ever-Living Who dieth not, and the King from Whose grasp escapeth nothing, whether in the heavens or on earth or between them. Thou createst what Thou willest by Thy command. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things.

Moreover, I testify that creation is Thy creation and command is from Thee and unto Thee, alone with no God but Thee. Thou hast created no glory save in knowing Thee and following Thy commandments. Thou hast ever been and wilt ever be. Thou savest from the fire whom Thou willest and causest to enter therein whom Thou willest. For in each of Thy Manifestations, when Thou makest Thyself known through Thy signs, all Thy creation become veiled. Thy servants, even should they worship Thee, would be veiled, and those who prostrate themselves before Thee, even should they prostrate, would not be veiled. Rather, they have worshipped Thee based on imagination and prostrated themselves without knowledge.

Glorified art Thou, there is no God but Thee. By Thy might, knowledge of Thy Self-Manifestation is dearer to me than all else. Without this nothing profiteth me, and this without all else profiteth me. Thus do I testify that in each of Thy Manifestations, when Thou hast perfected the Manifestations of those whom Thou hast nurtured through Thy commands and prohibitions, that Thou mightest purify them in Thy revelation after that Manifestation, if they were truthful in Thy previous Manifestation, then they would be detached unto Thee and not be veiled by anything before Thee.

Indeed, O my God, from the first moment Thou didst manifest me, all who followed me through what Thou gavest me of Thy signs—there is no doubt they are among those possessed of knowledge and wisdom with Thee—have entered knowingly into Thy good-pleasure and are not veiled by anything from Thy glory. And beyond that, until Thou takest me up unto Thee, Thy manifestations are shining upon him. Should he become veiled by anything, he hath fallen into unconsciousness and what he hath gained will not profit him. Thou hast said—and Thy word regarding Thy manifestation on the Day of Resurrection is true—“All who are in the heavens and earth and what lieth between them shall swoon away, save those whom God willeth.” Therefore, O God, make those whom Thou hast mentioned in the Book among those whom Thou hast willed, lest the fruit of their existence be lost on the Day of Thy Manifestation. For all act for Thee that Thou might accept from them, but they pay no heed that Thy acceptance will only be manifested through what is revealed from Thee in verses that have rendered the learned impotent.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! The people have heard all that is in the Furqan and the traditions of Thy Proofs from before, yet they have not understood their meaning nor paid attention to Thy purpose therein, such as when Thou didst reveal in the Qur’an the mention of the Day of Resurrection and the Day of Judgment, yet when Thou didst reveal these, Thou didst intend naught save the time of Thine Own manifestation in the revelation of Thy wondrous creation, though Thy chosen ones had interpreted both as the appearance of Thy proof. The people, however, having believed in illusory matters devoid of reality, failed to serve Thee, for they hearkened not unto Thy proofs and comprehended only what their minds could grasp. They claim to possess in this regard tradition or necessity, failing to understand that these two can only be established after the Manifestation of God, Whose prophethood—upon which all religion depends—Thou didst establish through Thy verses, though these two claims are rejected by Thee unless they accord with Thy purpose in the Book and the good-pleasure of Thy proofs in what they have uttered from Thee.

All peoples possess similar claims from their prophets, yet these shall profit them nothing with Thee. Their consensus, which is their greatest proof, was initially nullified by lacking even seven souls. How then could their greatest proof be nullified by lacking seven souls, when at that time these seven were considered by them to be possessed of wisdom and faith? Yet on that first day, they spoke of them as mentioned in the Furqan: “Shall we believe as the foolish have believed?” Such is the limitation of creation, in that they pay no heed to the origin of their religion and that whereby their ordinances are established.

By Thy glory! The truly learned are they who know Thee and verify Thy verses, whether they know all things or know nothing of all things. In every Dispensation, those who came before are tested, and nothing shall profit them save following Thy guidance and believing in Thy Manifestation, for there is none manifest but Thee, and none hidden save Thee. If the appearance of Thy Beloved were inferior to Thine Own, how couldst Thou have elevated the appearance of Jesus through His Manifestation?

I bear witness, by Thy glory, that Thou art the First and there is nothing before Thee, Thou art the Last and there is nothing after Thee, Thou art the Manifest and there is nothing above Thee, and Thou art the Hidden and there is nothing beyond Thee. Thy decrees are inscrutable and transcendent, and Thy beginnings are exalted and unique.

O God! Send down upon him who hath manifested Thy verses in his First Book all Thy grace and mercy, for were it not for Thy bestowal of all Thy grace and mercy upon him, nothing would suffice him, though after this nothing shall diminish from his grace. And concerning what hath been mentioned before Thee regarding the Bayan, do Thou cause him, O God, through Thy grace and mercy, to be sustained by the virgin cities of Thy paradise and to delight in the melodies of the birds and the warbling of the doves in the gardens of Thy oneness. This is Thy grace unto whom Thou pleasest and Thy bounty unto whom Thou willest.

Do Thou inspire him, O God, to observe Thy bounds as established before, lest he be saddened in Thy path. And concerning what hath been revealed from Thee regarding the loftiness of Thy grace and the sublimity of Thy bounty—yea, by Thy glory, were it not for Thy desired grace, who would be worthy of Thy bounty? Thou hast indeed carried all the destinies of that Manifestation upon spirit and fragrance, glory and exposition, lest anyone find within himself aught that might weigh heavily upon him, for Thy independence from all things is indubitable and the need of all things for Thee is irrefutable. Wert Thou to desire justice, who could establish Thy right? Rather, Thou hast ever spread mercy and grace over all Thy servants, for Thy chosen ones therein and Thy loved ones in its invisible and visible realms, for besides them, through their grace, do they enter Paradise and recite the Bayan […]

Verily, what he hath desired of Thy grace, there is no doubt that whoso is in Thy love, he hath ever been and shall ever be in Thy paradise—none can remove him therefrom. This is what Thou hast sealed for him and ordained for him as a bounty from Thee and a gift from Thy presence. Therefore, O my God, do Thou answer his prayer that he may witness the fulfillment of all his needs in this life, if Thy decrees have ordained it thus, and if not, then in Thy worlds which Thou hast destined, until there remaineth with him nothing that he loveth save that he findeth Thy criterion. Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou pleaseth and might over whatsoever Thou willeth. Do Thou preserve him, O my God, through Thy might and power and strength and grandeur and majesty, for verily his survival is most beloved unto me, for were there not such souls as these, wherefrom would the earth be weighted with Thy unity and through it flow the rivers of Thy sanctification?

Part 2: “Glorified art Thou! There is no God but…”

Glorified art Thou! There is no God but Thee! Indeed he hath desired of Thy Most Great Glad-Tidings and Thy Supreme Gift. What glad-tidings could be greater than Thy remembrance of him, and what gift more exalted than Thy good-pleasure with him, whereby he shall endure unto the Day of Resurrection in the Book? Do Thou, O my God, create him with the character of the most exalted ones, and of them that glorify, and of the spiritual ones who stand in ranks. Separate between him and those who believe not in Thy signs, and unite him with those who have believed in Thy signs. Verily, the companions of Thy good-pleasure are like unto the morning stars in their radiance. Should anyone in that day desire to distinguish between their sandals and those beneath them, verily he would be able to do so, for all that he desireth lieth within the shadow of Thy Word and what Thou hast established after Thy exposition.

O my God! Separate not between him and the people of Thy Ridvan, for these are they who have recognized Thee and followed Thy signs, and besides them I love not to make mention of any. Do Thou preserve, O my God, him and the people of Thy love from that which Thou lovest not, for verily Thou art the best of doers. And if he desireth to have his name mentioned in the paths, then separate not, O my God, between him and it, and do Thou cause him to know his station with Thee and his rank before Thee, lest he witness that which would sadden him in Thy presence. For verily Thou hast loved him and loved those who love him for Thy sake. How great is his station and the station of those like him in their faith in Thee and then in Thy signs!

As for what he hath mentioned in his letter regarding intercession for his father and mother and family and those who have aided him in his cause—verily Thou art more worthy and more glorious than to turn away anyone from Thy door or to withhold from any soul Thy forgiveness and good-pleasure. However, O my God, I would love to teach him that which would benefit him in intercession and bear fruit for its people.

For whoso was in a Manifestation before Thee, if he was veiled by anything, then the intercession of his brother or of one who would intercede for him would benefit him. But since the essence of His Cause hath been established for him, all the measures of Thy forgiveness and all the gates of Thy good-pleasure are accepted for him in their entirety.

But as for one who hath been veiled from the Manifestation of Thy creation by responding to Thy call with “Yea,” how can Thy forgiveness reach him when he hath no essence capable of bearing Thy forgiveness? And whoso hath heard but estimated that which hath come between him and his response hath entered the fire and is deserving according to the measure of his separation.

But after he hath responded, it is as though he had responded to Thee from the beginning that hath no beginning to the end that hath no end. For whoso respondeth to Thee in Him Whom Thou shalt manifest, verily he hath responded to Thee in all the worlds; and whoso respondeth not to Thee in Him, even if he responded to Thee in all the worlds, it would profit him not. For He is the Manifestation of Thy Self—how then could one who responded to Thee before not respond to Thee afterwards? Verily, the manifestation of Thy Cause in the Hereafter is greater and more exalted than the manifestation of Thy Cause in the first life.

And I testify unto Thee that Paradise in that life is to know Thee and to love Thee, then to follow what hath been sent down from Thy presence, for Thy verses have been magnified above all who dwell in the kingdoms of the heavens and the earth and whatsoever lieth between them. After one entereth therein, he shall not be veiled by aught from the seats of Thy command and Thy prohibition. Then shall the intercession of whomsoever intercedeth be accepted therein. But for him who hath no ruling, how can this be applicable to him?

Nay, by Thy glory, I shall surely love whomsoever is from Thee, that I may forgive all things and cause all things to enter Paradise, for I desire naught save what Thou hast forgiven, and I love naught save what Thou hast caused to enter. But Thy forgiveness descendeth not save upon him who knoweth Thee and followeth Thy command, nor doth any enter Thy Paradise save he who loveth Thee and followeth what hath been ordained from Thy presence. For what Thou hast promised in the Hereafter shall be made manifest unto its people according to what they have tasted in that existence.

Thus, were all upon the earth to answer Thy call at the time of His manifestation, they would all enter Thy Paradise and the garden of Thy forgiveness. But none attaineth unto this save he who truly believeth in Him, even though Thou hast commanded all to this and permitted all to that. And likewise in Thy manifestation in the Bayan, and likewise in Thy manifestation to Him Whom Thou shalt make manifest through the signs of Thy power and the words of Thy glory.

Otherwise, were the veil to be lifted, all would worship Thee and prostrate themselves before Thee according to what Thou lovest and art pleased with. But when they are veiled without right, they worship Thee and prostrate themselves before Thee through the manifestation of Him Who preceded Thee; yet it is not for Thee but for other than Thee—and if it be for Thee it returneth unto Thee. For from the days of Adam until now, there is none save that he hath a path from his Prophet who was in his time the Truth, if he altereth it not. But how can this benefit him?

Therefore, O my God, do Thou have mercy upon all Thy creation and send forth from Thy presence one who shall cause them to enter the Paradise of Thy forgiveness and the heaven of Thy good-pleasure. For verily, I see not the people possessed of knowledge; rather I see them as the embryo in its mother’s womb, finding it difficult to emerge, and seeing itself as though God had created no world for it save that wherein it dwelleth, and God had created no sustenance sweeter than that which nourisheth it. Yet God bringeth it forth without its consent, and day by day it witnesseth the bounty of its Lord and the generosity of its Creator.

Therefore, O my God, show grace unto all Thy creation, for they are Thy servants and within Thy grasp. They reckon they do good while in Thy sight they do not good, after Thou hadst taught them the ways of knowing Thee. But they have become veiled thereby, though they have seen Thy chosen ones among Thy creation following Thy good-pleasure and detaching themselves from all else in such wise as none hath preceded them. Yet they pay no heed.

And I see not, O my God, for all who are on earth any bounty from Thy presence and generosity from Thy side greater and mightier than that Thou shouldst send forth from Thy presence one who shall cause them to enter into Thy Faith. For by Thy glory, I have loved none save Thee and desired naught besides Thee. Verily Thou sufficest me against all things, and nothing sufficeth against Thee, neither in the heavens nor on earth nor whatsoever lieth between them. Thou art indeed the Encompasser of all things.

And verily he who hath desired of Thy grace and communed with Thee in his book before Thee—no doubt Thou art the Knower of all things and the Powerful over all things. Thou causest the measures to flow through their means, and he knoweth Thee not who desireth them without their means, though Thou art indeed powerful and mighty over all things. Thou createst the means through their cause and createst the cause through no cause of itself.

But Thou hast ordained measures for all things which appear only through the operation of their causes. Therefore, O my God, set in motion for him who hath beseeched Thee in his book all the causes of Thy bounty, both in his beginning and his end. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things. And inspire him, O my God, as he reciteth that verse, with that which will gladden his heart, for in every letter thereof is that which Thou hast created of Thy spirit which must needs attach itself to him who readeth it, for Thou art indeed near and ready to answer. Say: God hath manifested above every manifestation, and none in the heavens or on the earth or in what lieth between them can withhold himself from the sovereign power of His manifestation. Verily, His was a manifestation manifest and manifest-making. And cause him, O my God, to know the places where the Command falleth upon him, for Thou art the best Ordainer and Decreer, and Thou art, verily, the Preserver of all things.