BB00360

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

Glory be to Him Who knoweth what is in the heavens and what is on earth. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Wise. O my God! How can I extol Thy majesty on this Friday, knowing my own nothingness before Thee? Yet since Thou hast placed the signs of Thy Lordship within my soul, I commune with Thee in my solitude and exile amidst the mountains during these changing circumstances, that perchance the angels may hear my voice and call upon Thee due to my grief. Through this, Thou mayest look upon me with a near gaze that transforms my sorrow into the joy of the lights of Thy Self-Sufficiency, and my lamentations into witnessing the fragrances of Thy holiness.

O Lord! Thou art the Creator Who brought me into being before I was anything. O Lord! Thou art the Sustainer Who protected me before I entered any fortress. O Lord! Thou art the Omnipotent Who inspired me before I chose any glory. How can I thank Thee for the excellence of my trials while Thou art ever my Witness? And how can I praise Thee for the beauty of Thy decree concerning me?

By Thy might! It is as though I see this station of mine as the summit of Paradise, for whoever can praise Thee cares not for the displeasure of Thy servants, and whoever delights in intimacy with Thy presence misses no good in the presence of Thy Divine Dominion. Therefore, unto Thee be praise in this station of mine—a praise radiant, effulgent, luminous and sanctified, which excels all praise as Thy Self excels all Thou hast created, for Thou hast freed me on this mountain for Thy worship.

I beseech Thee not to gather me with those servants whom Thou hast described in Thy decisive verses, where Thou didst say—and Thy word is the truth—“They are like cattle, nay, more misguided.” Then praise be to Thee for all Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy grace. By Thy might! I see no abasement in my station, for I am not more honored before Thee than the trustees of Thy Revelation, for whom Thou didst ordain through Thy decree similar stations.

All Thy worship for Thy chosen ones has been thus. By Thy might! I find no alteration in Thy practice, nor do I witness any interruption in Thy bounty. Therefore, the favor and grace are Thine for having distinguished me with this great gift and mighty endowment, which Thou bestoweth not upon any of Thy chosen ones except those from whom Thou didst take Thy covenant in the primary scenes, and in whom Thou didst see faithfulness and contentment with Thy decree.

Glorified and exalted art Thou! If Thou shouldst punish me with all Thy retribution, I would surely deserve it, and if Thou shouldst honor me and ordain for me all Thy gifts, Thou art worthy of that. So praise be to Thee for having taught me Thy oneness and caused to flow upon my tongue the word of Thy praise.

I bear witness that there is no God but Thee, as Thou hast testified to Thine own Self, without any of Thy creation comprehending its knowledge. And I bear witness to Muhammad and his successors—Thy blessings be upon them—according to what Thou hast ordained for them in the knowledge of the unseen with Thee. And I bear witness to myself according to what Thou lovest and art pleased with.

Therefore, O God, forgive me and my parents and those who follow me in Thy judgment. Send down upon us Thy fragrances, honor us with Thy blessings, and protect us from all evil through the authority of Thine eternity. Verily, Thou art independent of punishing us and art powerful over forgiving us. Thou art indeed God, the Generous, the Bestower. Nothing in the heavens and earth is too great for Thee, and Thou art powerful over all things, and to whoever calls upon Thee, Thou art near and responding.

Therefore, O God, send Thy blessings upon Muhammad and his family, the Manifestations of Thy Grandeur, and bestow Thy peace upon their followers, the manifestations of Thy mercy, through Thy grace and the authority of Thy providence, then through Thy generosity and the authority of Thy sovereignty. Verily, Thou art God, the Mighty, the Bestower. Glory be to God, then praise be to Him, and verily I say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.