Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (Holley)/Text

c.

1

EPISTLE TO THE SON OF THE WOLF A Study and Discussion Course

By Horace Holley

LOUHELEN BAHA'I SCHOOL 1952

"Finally, mention must be made of His Epistle to Shaykh Muhamad-Taqi, surnamed "Ibn-i—Dhi'b" (Son of the Wolf), the last outstanding Tablet revealed by the pen of Bahá’u’lláh, in which He calls upon that rapacious priest to repent of his acts, quotes some of the most characteristic and celebrated passages of His own writings, and adduces proofs establishing the validity of His Cause.

"With this book, revealed about one year prior to His ascension, the prodigious achievement as author of a hundred volumes, repositories of the priceless pearls of His Revelation, may be said to have practically terminated."

- SHOGEI EFFENDI, in God Passes By, pp. 219-220

[Page 2]

.“;l‘fl“HU!lll“8ll“l“‘"'ll“l*“‘*

9

Hllllflflll

-1- ;. INTRODUCTION The student desirous of becoming intimately acquainted with the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, and intent on penetrating into their very spirit, soon finds that he must adapt his method of learning to the nature of the particular book he has in hand. Even the relatively few works now available in English manifest a great variety of literary forms and great differences in rhythm and style. Thus one approaches gidden words with one mind and heart, the Egan with an other, and Seven Valleys or Gleaningg with still other forms of intentness and

appreciation. It is impossible to apply the same method of learning to all. One eventually learns that the text itself, if we freely permit it to influence and guide us, will gradually evoke in us our highest quality of response and bend our minds to the right quality of awareness.

The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf eludes the effort of rational thought

to place its contents within any mold or form. we recognize that Bahá’u’lláh has written a letter to a hostile priest, calling upon him to repent and become obedient to the manifest Will of God, but the letter transcends its immediate object and becomes a repository of selections from Bahá’u’lláh's previous works, a proof of the Manifestation as He has appeared in previous eras, a door opened upon the inner court of Bahá’u’lláh's mystical experiences, a proclamation of His Mission to Kings and Priests, a glorification of those souls who suffered martyrdom in love of the Prophet, and a clear exposition of the most profound truths of religion. This Study and Discussion Course, therefore, seeks most of all to inquire of

the text itself how to gather treasures from this vast storehouse of truth. If by the process of consultation the class itself can develop a truly helpful

Course on Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, the purpose of this preliminary effort

will have been fully attained.

[Page 3]ive upon the variety of subjects treated.

'2',/.E

EPISTEE TO THE SON OF THE WOLF 1. A Synopsis This sumary of the contents has been made in order to provide a perspect It is based upon a division of the

work into its successive themes.

10

2.

10.

ll.

12.

13.

. Pp. 17-19, from "O Shaykh!

Pp. 1-2, from "Praise be to God" to "of grace abounding". Supreme Mediator.

A prayer for the

P. 2, from "Give ear, 0 distinguished divine" to "recite". leading priest.

Counsel to a

Pp. 3-9, from "O God, my God" to "the All-Wise". sin and appeal for forgiveness.

Prayer of confession of

P. 9, from "0 Shaykh" to "and upon others". with assurance.

The priest is bidden to pray

Pp. 9-10, from "My God, the Object" to "the All-Seeing". ening the spiritually dead.

Prayer for quick Pp. 10-13, from "we beseech God" to "all gifts and-bounties". Bahá’u’lláh's power is not from Himself but from God. Why the Divine Messengers have been sent down.

P. 13, from "Justice and equity" to "were promulgated". The purpose of God. The essence of His religion.

Pp. 13-17, from ”Gird up the loins" to "this world and the next". exhorted to aid this Revelation and overcome religious dissension. unity. True and false divines.

Bahá’ís Power of

We have learned" to "have vafted”. Bahá’u’lláh He counsels him to turn to God Distinction between manmade arts and sciences

has learned of the priest's bitter enmity. in faith and pray for pardon. and true knowledge.

Pp. 17-22, from "We deem it advisable" to "could bear to hear". Bahá’u’lláh recounts to the divine His confinement in siyyih-Chal and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Pp. 22-28, from "We shall herewith cite” to "endued with discernment". Quotations from Tablets enjoining the Bahá’ís to be virtuous and exhorting the rulers to uphold the cause of religion.

Pp. 28-32, from "It is Our hope" to "acceptable unto Him". Importance of Justice. Quotations from Tablets concerning the duty of believers and the Lesser Peace.

Pp. 32-36, from "In these days" to "been pleased to spare". abolish disputes, war and bloodshed.

His purpose to

[Page 4]1h.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23:

2h.

25.

26.

27.

280

29.

p.’

V I r‘ /V1,}

Pp. 36-hh, from "O Shaykhl" to "the All-Knowing, the A11-Informed". Sole aim the betterment of the world. Excerpts from Tablet to the Shah. References to Moses, Muhammad, Imam Ali, Eusayn.

Pp. hh-6h, from "Beseech God to grant" to "aware of what I say“. Tablets to

kings reveal cause of unity and world reconstruction.

Pp. 6h—68, from "This charge of fomenting" to "nigh unto Him to sigh". Moses and all the Prophets have been denounced as fomentors of discord.

Pp. 68-70, from "His Excellency, the late" to "the forgiving, the Merciful". Bahá’u’lláh in Constantinople.

Pp. 70-89, from "O Shaykhl My pen" to "pertaineth unto God". Persecution

of Bahá’ís. Proofs advanced by divines to Justify their rejection of the Prophet. Pp. 89-111, from "It is now incumbent" to "that which God hath purposed".

Station of kings. Excerpts from Tablet to Napoleon III.

All Prophets have been rejected. The standard of virtue. This is the day of disclosure.

Pp. 111-113, from "Every one who hath turned" to "or God with it". Divinity and Godhead in Sacred writings.

Pp. 113-115, from "O Shaykh! Ponder upon” to "the Lord of the worlds". Trust in God. Pp. 115-118, from "Ponder a while" to "Lord of the worlds". The presence

of God.

Pp. 118-119, from "In all the Divine Books" to "deny all the Prophets". Meaning of the Presence of God.

Pp. 119-122, from "Reflect, 0 Shaykh" to "tranquillity of the people”. Heedlessness of the Shi’ih sect.

Pp. 122-135, from "O Shaykhl we have time and again” to "lost in strange doubt”. Proofs of the Manifestation.

Pp. 135-137, from "We have admonished" to "increase their loss". Fear of

God the source of virtue and action. Trustworthiness.

Pp. 137-lho, from "O Shaykhl Praised". A world language and a world script.

It is incumbent" to "the Mighty, the A11The Crimson Ark.

Pp. lho-1&8, from "0 Shaykhl Thou hast heard" to "by the most Sublime Pen". The Báb's references to Bahá’u’lláh conform to prophecies of Muhamad. The Day of God foretold by Christ, Joel, Muhammad, Jeremiah, David, Isaiah, Amos.

Pp. 148-151, from "In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas" to "all that is on earth". Bahá’u’lláh's Tablet on Tihran. Tablets revealing the power of God. All will come to pass as revealed.

[Page 5]30.

3]..

32¢

33.

3h.

35 II.

III.

/ -13- 7/»?

Pp. 151-158, from "In like mnner the Primal Point" to "all proofs and testimonies". The Báb foretells this Revelation. Appeal to the followers

of the Báb. Those who turn aside are as the followers of John the Baptist. P. 158, fro "John, son of Zacharias" to "not worthy to bear". John's utterances about the Kingdom of heaven.

Pp. 158-163, from "Wherefore, hath My Forerunner" to "world of creation". The Báb exalts Bahá’u’lláh. The Covenant of the Báb.

Pp. 163-165, from "O Hadi! The blind fanaticism" to "refuge with the True One". Fanaticism of the Shi'1h sect. Appeal to Hedi not to raise up a new sect.

Pp. 165-177, from "Apprehend now the cry" to "His Tablets, is come". Any faithless member of His family will be cut off. Bahá’u’lláh's retirement for two years from Baghdad. Collection of Tablets of the Báb. Mirza Yaḥyá disobeys Bahá’u’lláh. Faithlessness of members of the family. Words of the Bab preparing the Babis for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh.

Pp. 177-181, from "In this connection" to end of Tablet. Traditions con canug'M¢m For Study and Discussion

Reading: Pages lho-150.

References from Index on Prophecies of the Báb concerning Bahá’u’lláh. Reading: Pages 150-163.

References from Index on station of Bahá’u’lláh. Reading: Pages 1-15.

References from Index on Day of God.

Reading: Pages 15-35.

References from Index on Manifestations.

Reading: Pages hh-6h.

References from Index on Justice.

Reading: Pages 72-90. Listing of principal themes of the Tablet.