Texts 115 - 133
115
Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centring
his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance,
and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to
the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and, entering therein, seateth
himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the
Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The
&Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is each and every building which
hath been erected in cities and villages for the
celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it
hath been designated before the throne of glory, were
ye of those who understand.
116
They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in
the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that
with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can
never be compared. From them they will inhale the
divine fragrance of My worlds--worlds which today
none can discern save those who have been endowed
with vision through this sublime, this beauteous
Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure
unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be
expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed
be those who hearken.
117
Assist ye, O My people, My chosen servants who
have arisen to make mention of Me among My creatures
and to exalt My Word throughout My realm. These,
truly, are the stars of the heaven of My loving
providence and the lamps of My guidance unto all
mankind. But he whose words conflict with that which
hath been sent down in My Holy Tablets is not of Me.
Beware lest ye follow any impious pretender. These
Tablets are embellished with the seal of Him Who
causeth the dawn to appear, Who lifteth up His voice
between the heavens and the earth. Lay hold on this
Sure Handle and on the Cord of My mighty and
unassailable Cause.
118
The Lord hath granted leave to whosoever desireth
it that he be instructed in the divers tongues of the
world that he may deliver the Message of the Cause of
God throughout the East and throughout the West,
that he make mention of Him amidst the kindreds and
peoples of the world in such wise that hearts may revive
and the mouldering bone be quickened.
119
It is inadmissible that man, who hath been
endowed with reason, should consume that which
stealeth it away. Nay, rather it behoveth him to
comport himself in a manner worthy of the human
station, and not in accordance with the misdeeds of
every heedless and wavering soul.
120
Adorn your heads with the garlands of trustworthiness
and fidelity, your hearts with the attire of
the fear of God, your tongues with absolute truthfulness,
your bodies with the vesture of courtesy. These
are in truth seemly adornings unto the temple of man,
if ye be of them that reflect. Cling, O ye people of
&Baha, to the cord of servitude unto God, the True One,
for thereby your stations shall be made manifest, your
names written and preserved, your ranks raised and
your memory exalted in the Preserved Tablet. Beware
lest the dwellers on earth hinder you from this glorious
and exalted station. Thus have We exhorted you in
most of Our Epistles and now in this, Our Holy
Tablet, above which hath beamed the Day-Star of the
Laws of the Lord, your God, the Powerful, the All-Wise.
121
When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and
the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces
toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath
branched from this Ancient Root.
122
Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They ask
for that which injureth them, and cast away the thing
that profiteth them. They are, indeed, of those that are
far astray. We find some men desiring liberty, and
priding themselves therein. Such men are in the depths
of ignorance.
123
Liberty must, in the end, lead to sedition, whose
flames none can quench. Thus warneth you He Who is
the Reckoner, the All-Knowing. Know ye that the
embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal.
That which beseemeth man is submission unto such
restraints as will protect him from his own ignorance,
and guard him against the harm of the mischief-maker.
Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of
propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station.
It debaseth him to the level of extreme depravity and
wickedness.
124
Regard men as a flock of sheep that need a
shepherd for their protection. This, verily, is the truth,
the certain truth. We approve of liberty in certain
circumstances, and refuse to sanction it in others. We,
verily, are the All-Knowing.
125
Say: True liberty consisteth in man's submission
unto My commandments, little as ye know it. Were
men to observe that which We have sent down unto
them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a
certainty, attain unto perfect liberty. Happy is the man
that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever
He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will that
pervadeth all created things. Say: The liberty that
profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete
servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath
tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the
dominion of earth and heaven.
126
In the &Bayan it had been forbidden you to ask Us
questions. The Lord hath now relieved you of this
prohibition, that ye may be free to ask what you need
to ask, but not such idle questions as those on which
the men of former times were wont to dwell. Fear God,
and be ye of the righteous! Ask ye that which shall be of
profit to you in the Cause of God and His dominion, for
the portals of His tender compassion have been opened
before all who dwell in heaven and on earth.
127
The number of months in a year, appointed in the
Book of God, is nineteen. Of these the first hath been
adorned with this Name which overshadoweth the
whole of creation.
128
The Lord hath decreed that the dead should be
interred in coffins made of crystal, of hard, resistant
stone, or of wood that is both fine and durable, and that
graven rings should be placed upon their fingers. He,
verily, is the Supreme Ordainer, the One apprised of
all.
129
The inscription on these rings should read, for
men: "Unto God belongeth all that is in the heavens
and on the earth and whatsoever is between them, and
He, in truth, hath knowledge of all things"; and for
women: "Unto God belongeth the dominion of the
heavens and the earth and whatsoever is between them,
and He, in truth, is potent over all things". These are
the verses that were revealed aforetime, but lo, the
Point of the &Bayan now calleth out, exclaiming, "O
Best-Beloved of the worlds! Reveal Thou in their stead
such words as will waft the fragrance of Thy gracious
favours over all mankind. We have announced unto
everyone that one single word from Thee excelleth all
that hath been sent down in the &Bayan. Thou, indeed,
hast power to do what pleaseth Thee. Deprive not Thy
servants of the overflowing bounties of the ocean of Thy
mercy! Thou, in truth, art He Whose grace is infinite."
Behold, We have hearkened to His call, and now fulfil
His wish. He, verily, is the Best-Beloved, the
Answerer of prayers. If the following verse, which hath
at this moment been sent down by God, be engraved
upon the burial-rings of both men and women, it shall
be better for them; We, of a certainty, are the Supreme
Ordainer: "I came forth from God, and return unto
Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His
Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate." Thus doth
the Lord single out whomsoever He desireth for a
bounty from His presence. He is, in very truth, the
God of might and power.
130
The Lord hath decreed, moreover, that the
deceased should be enfolded in five sheets of silk or
cotton. For those whose means are limited a single
sheet of either fabric will suffice. Thus hath it been
ordained by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
It is forbidden you to transport the body of
the deceased a greater distance than one hour's journey
from the city; rather should it be interred, with
radiance and serenity, in a nearby place.
131
God hath removed the restrictions on travel that
had been imposed in the &Bayan. He, verily, is the
Unconstrained; He doeth as He pleaseth and ordaineth
whatsoever He willeth.
132
O peoples of the world! Give ear unto the call of
Him Who is the Lord of Names, Who proclaimeth
unto you from His habitation in the Most Great Prison:
"Verily, no God is there but Me, the Powerful, the
Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Most Exalted, the
Omniscient, the All-Wise." In truth, there is no God
but Him, the Omnipotent Ruler of the worlds. Were it
His Will, He would, through but a single word
proceeding from His presence, lay hold on all
mankind. Beware lest ye hesitate in your acceptance of
this Cause--a Cause before which the Concourse on
high and the dwellers of the Cities of Names have
bowed down. Fear God, and be not of those who are
shut out as by a veil. Burn ye away the veils with the
fire of My love, and dispel ye the mists of vain
imaginings by the power of this Name through which
We have subdued the entire creation.
133
Raise up and exalt the two Houses in the Twin
Hallowed Spots, and the other sites wherein the throne
of your Lord, the All-Merciful, hath been established.
Thus commandeth you the Lord of every understanding
heart.
Texts 115 - 133 |