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Vol. III
November 23, 1912
No. 14
| PAGE | |
Portrait: The Center of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha | 2 |
The "Day of God"—By Mirza Abul Fazl | 3 |
The "Center of the Covenant"—By Mirza Abul Fazl | 5 |
Kitab-El-Ah'd, Book of the Covenant—By Baha'o'llah | 6 |
The "Father" and the "Son"—By Abdel Karim | 10 |
In Praise of "The Greatest Branch"—By Mirza Abul Fazl | 12 |
Tablet of "The Branch"—By Baha'o'llah | 15 |
ABDUL-BAHA
"When the ocean of My Presence hath disappeared and the Book of Origin is achieved to the end, turn your faces toward Him Whom God Hath Purposed, who hath branched from this Pre-Existent Root."—Words of BAHA'O'LLAH.
--PERSIAN TEXT--
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened; that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. III
Chicago (November 23, 1912) Kowl
No. 14
Selections from The Bahá Proofs, by Mirza Abul Fazl.
In the Name of GOD, the Most Holy Beauty of EL-ABHA!
O YE PEOPLE! Know—may God the Exalted assist ye through a spirit sent from Him!—Verily, when ye consider carefully the announcements in the Heavenly Books and perceive the glad tidings in the Holy, Divine Writings, ye will find they agree in promising the coming of the "Day of God" and foreshadowing the arrival of the "Hour" wherein the Face of God will be manifested, the regions of heaven and earth will be illuminated by His coming, all former things will be changed by His rising, and every sorrow effaced. The essence of all that is recorded concerning these glad tidings is this, that when oppression and tyranny prevail throughout the world; when distress and tribulations are intensified among the nations; when divergencies of religions and creeds become grave and widespread, and the heaven of worship of the Merciful God is riven and overthrown; when the greed of souls grows fierce to violate men and property; when terrors and adversities prevail; at that time the Divine Herald will arise, the Holy Heavenly Spirit will descend, announcing the coming of the Manifestation of the promised Lord and proclaiming the approach of the dawn of the Orb of His Glorious Beauty. Then will the Path be made plain, hearts brought nigh unto God, breasts healed, griefs dispelled and tears wiped away. Then will the glorious Lord arise and utter a Call which shall shake the pillars of this lofty edifice. He will cry out in a voice which shall fill the expanse of the world and summon all the nations of the earth, both east and west, to God, The Mighty, The Glorious! Then will He institute for them new laws, and trace out for them a plain, direct path.
And after the setting of the Sun of His Beauty, the breeze of His Presence being hushed, the Glorious "Branch" extended from the Tree of His Essence will arise; the dawning Moon will shine from the horizon of the Heaven of His Bounty, diffusing the lights of His Religion, establishing the Temple of His Worship and sitting upon the Throne of His Glory. His holy Word will penetrate all regions until the saying be fulfilled, "The earth will be illuminated with the Light of its Lord, in the day of judgment."
With the rising of such Divine Souls and the shining forth of such Heavenly Lights, the clouds of fictitious beliefs will be dispersed and the pearls of the Realities of Knowledge will become manifest; religious divergences will be removed and nations will be united in worshipping the Merciful One. So the worship of satan shall pass away. In that Day, God will "make all things new." Everywhere affairs will change, until all parts of the earth shall rejoice. Enlightenment, learning, arts and trades will become universal among mankind. The remote ones of the world will be brought nigh; nations and peoples will be harmonized; the rancours and animosities hidden in breasts shall be removed, and love, affection, attraction and brotherhood become general throughout the world. Then souls will be cheered by the wafting of the fragrances of joy, and hearts will rejoice at the blowing of the Breezes of Gladness. The Lord will destroy all vestiges of tyranny, oppression and rebellion through His Power, and will propagate evidences of Equity, Justice and Charity.
He will judge between nations, render justice between people, correct souls and unite hearts. Then the time of spoiling will pass away, and the days of warring cease; the swords will be made into plough-shares, the spears into pruning-hooks; no nation will raise sword against another, and no "multitudes will wage wars together."
In a word: the Fragrances of Resurrection
will stir and the Breezes of Life will
blow; the "dead" will be quickened, the darkness
of former things be dispelled, and the
lights of ideal virtues will shine; the emblems
of true humanity will be raised in all places,[Page 4]
and the Lord of Heaven and Earth will
illumine all regions, both east and west.
Then know, O ye people, that in the year 1844 A. D., the Star of Guidance dawned, the Planet of Purity shone forth, the Fountains of Knowledge gushed out in one of the best lands of the Orient, when the Tree of Grace was ignited in the city of Shiraz, the chief town of the province of Fars, Persia. The Most Great Báb (Gate) arose, preaching to the multitudes and peoples, heralding the expiration of the gloomy night, foreshadowing and clearly declaring the coming of the great and dreadful "Day of God." He raised this call betwixt the heaven and earth: "Rejoice! Rejoice! The Morn of Guidance hath indeed appeared, the gloomy night hath cleared away, and the Dawning of the Beauty of GOD, EL-ABHA is at hand. The springtime of the Return of the Realities of Regeneration hath come!" All regions trembled with this most sweet call and the Resurrection appeared through the supreme Message. The storms of oppression blew and the whirlwinds of rancour stirred in the breasts of religious doctors. Then the brilliant Flame was extinguished, the spiritual Fragrance ceased and the Beauty of the Merciful One was martyred in the city of Tabriz, the chief town of Azerbeyjan, under the sentence of a satanic and impious one. Calamities and afflictions appeared, animosity and malice showed forth and the dark clouds of discord became violent; until the appointed time came and the Signs of the arrival of the "Day of God" were manifest in all directions.
Then dawned the Sun of the Beauty of the Promised One; then arose and beamed the Orb of the Face of the Adored One. The Hour arrived, the Resurrection came, the Trumpet sounded and the dawn of the Manifestation shone forth. BAHA'O'LLAH-EL-ABHA arose; the Beauty of the Supreme GOD appeared and called out with a voice that filled all regions, causing the "seven strata of the earth" to tremble.
* * * * * * *
Now the promised GOD hath indeed come, the Beauty of the Adored One hath appeared, the appointed "Day of God" hath dawned and his irrefutable and glorious Command hath arisen. The Lord hath descended in the shadow of clouds; the earth is shining with the Light of the Face of its Lord, the Bestower; the Bridge is extended, the Book is appointed, the curtain is lifted and the veil is removed. Showers of Verses have fallen, branches of Knowledge have put forth leaves and become flourishing in all directions. The dead have arisen and the lifefless are resurrected. The rivers of Knowledge and enlightenment have flowed from his Supreme Pen and He hath broken the seal of the "Sealed Wine" with his Generous Finger. He hath explained in His Holy Tablets the realities of the Words of the Prophets, and hath disclosed in His precious Writings the meanings of the symbols of the Elect, until all the seals of the Prophets have been opened and the aims of the Messengers become unveiled to the possessors of pure hearts. He instituted new laws which are destined to unite all nations and multitudes; issued a glorious Command which will bring together all religions and creeds, enjoined His Saints to love all nations and exhorted them to serve all the people of the world. He enacted for them devotional ordinances, such as fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, almsgiving and other rites and ceremonies. He forbade crimes and sins, such as murder, adultery, theft, backbiting, lying, calumny and other iniquities and offences. He commanded them to submit to the laws of government, urged them to obey kings and princes and to respect those who are good among the learned men and doctors. He exhorted them to universally spread enlightment, to educate their children of both sexes and absolutely prohibited them from that which may create oppression and hatred in the world. He forbade them from cursing, execration, insult, strife, conflict and all that is calculated to separate hearts or perturb souls. He even forbade them from carrying arms without the permission of rulers, and from everything that may cause confusion.
During His last days He wrote the Kitab-el-Ah'd (The Book of the Covenant, Testament or Will) with His blessed fingers in which He clearly stated and appointed the CENTER OF THE COVENANT, directing peoples to the Orb of the Universe. In this Book He again exhorted His friends and followers to show forth good characteristics and noble attributes, so that there may appear pure and chaste souls among His believers; shining and beaming stars in the heaven of His Cause.
Likewise, the torrent of His Verses and the
shower of His Graces abundantly poured[Page 5]
down, until the time of Disappearance drew
nigh, and the Sun of Truth was concealed in
the veil of Absence. The Lord ascended to
the Supreme Court of His Might, and His
blessed Identity was hidden in His Invisible,
Furthermost Essence. This calamitous event
and lamentable disaster happened in the month
Zi-Ka-'da, 1309 A. H., which corresponds
to the month of May, 1892, A.D.
When the Sun of Guidance was set and the rustle of the Sadrat-el-Muntaha* hushed, then the Orb of the Covenant dawned and
*A Tree planted at the end of the Road for the Guidance of the traveler.
the Moon of the Testament appeared with the utmost brilliancy and effulgence. The glorious "Branch extended from the Ancient Root" arose to promote the Word of the King of the Day of Judgment, and now He is crying and heralding throughout all regions: "The Judgment of GOD hath come; respond ye, respond ye unto the Call of GOD! Hearken ye, hearken ye, to the Melodies of GOD! Inhale ye the Fragrances of GOD! Be illumined, be illumined with the lights of the Face of BAHA'O'LLAH! The promises of the Prophets have already been fulfilled, the prophecies and the Messengers realized; the Day of Judgment hath come, and mankind hath stood before the Lord of the creatures!"
O GOD! Assist me with the hosts of the Supreme Concourse and make me firm and steadfast in the COVENANT and TESTAMENT. I am weak in the COVENANT and TESTAMENT; confer upon me strength. I am poor; bestow upon me wealth from the treasures of the Kingdom. I am ignorant; open before my face the doors of knowledge; I am dead; breathe into me the Breath of Life. I am dumb; grant me an eloquent tongue, so that with a fluent expression I may raise the call of Thy Kingdom and quicken all of them in firmness to the COVENANT. Thou art the Generous, the Giver and the Mighty!
Selections from The Bahai Proofs, by Mirza Abul Fazl.
In the Name of GOD, the Most Holy Beauty of EL-ABHA!TO the people of Faith, the clear appointment of the CENTER OF THE CAUSE, after the Departure [death] of the Manifestation [BAHA'O'LLAH], is considered the most important point in religious matters, as it is the greatest channel which connects the servants of God with Holy Divine Truth. They are all sure and convinced that the CENTER OF THE COVENANT is no other than His Holiness, ABDUL-BAHA; for, apart from the Divine signs that were manifest in Him, BAHA'O'LLAH clearly and implicitly, verbally and in writing, directed all of His servants to the blessed Person of ABDUL-BAHA, and, under all circumstances, clearly showed that He was far distinguished above others, in order that all the servants should look unto Him alone, and follow His Commands. For it is only through His explanation and decision that all discord is removed. Consequently the Bahais appreciate the determining of the "Appointed Center" as the greatest of the Divine Providences, and account His blessed Being as an impregnable fortress which protects the Divine Religion from the doubts of the skeptic and fanciful imaginations of men.
But notwithstanding all this, as BAHA'O'LLAH
foresaw, that when His Beauty of Oneness
was concealed under the veils of disappearance,
the people of desire, through jealousy,
would hold to groundless doubts and suspicions
and disregard the prohibition to interpret
the Book. He, therefore, prior to His Departure,
revealed the blessed Kitab-el-A'hd
[Book of the Covenant, the Will of
BAHA'O'LLAH]. This He wrote, and sealed
it with His own blessed Hand and Seal, in
order that the darkness of discord might not
again obscure the brilliant Horizon of the
Cause of God, and the calamities and disasters
which afflicted other religions might not overtake
this Movement. In this Book (His Covenant)
He clearly indicated that the purpose
of the "Branch extended from the Ancient
Root," revealed in the blessed Verse of
Akdas, was the Center of the Circle of Names,
the Exalted Branch of the Blessed Tree of
ABHA, His Holiness ABDUL-BAHA. Then He,
for the second time, enjoined, through an
unchangeable and irrefutable command, all His
"branches," "twigs," (relatives) and the Bahais
without exception, to look unto that Dawning-place
of Divine Light, and to know Him as
the Source and Origin of the commands and
prohibitions of the Heavenly Religion. He[Page 6]
desired, by this clear elucidation, to counteract
the imaginations of the ignorant, extinguish
the world-consuming flame of jealousy
and hatred of the people of error, and
guard the Divine Religion from divisions
and sects which are, according to the
judgment of common sense and the clear
texts of the Holy Tablets of God, the most
deplorable for religion and humanity. By this
He sought to preserve the Divine Word from
human doubts, suspicions and artifices.
* * * * * * *
But alas! All these clear texts of God, commanding people to turn to the Day-spring of the Light of the Covenant, did not check the evil thoughts of the people of discord; and His repeated exhortations and advices did not soften the hard hearts of the men of hostility, nor prevent them from ruinous discords and divisions. For when, in May, 1892 A.D. (Zul-Ka'da, 1309 A.H.), BAHA'O'LLAH ascended to His Most Holy Station, and nine days after His Departure, the Book of the Covenant of God was chanted in the Holy Tomb in the assembly of believers, the gloom of animosity and disappointment became instantly manifest upon the faces of those who had groundless pride and desire for leadership, and who sought to raise discord and contradiction. On the other hand, cheerfulness and joy were manifest in the shining faces of those who had no desire but that of seeking the Truth and telling the Truth. Some were seated upon the right hand of certainty, firmness and steadfastness in the solid Covenant of God, and some stood upon the left hand of unhappiness, in their impossible desire and erroneous thoughts. The former became distinguished for their firmness and inflexibility; noted for the effectiveness of their word, their good name and success in assisting the Cause, while the others were distinguished by their instability, degradation and shame. From that day, the thorn of violating the Covenant of God grew in the Garden of the Bahai community and the signs of senseless hatred and hostilly proceeded from a limited number of persons who are known as the "nakezeen" (violators of the Covenant).
Although these people who violated the Covenant received, during the life of BAHA'O'LLAH and after His Departure, every kindness and favor from His Holiness ABDUL-BAHA, who considered their welfare and prosperity before His own and that of the faithful believers, yet, on account of jealousy and selfishness, they violated the Cause of God. Thus came to pass that which was prophesied by the Prophets — especially Christ — concerning the people of the right hand and the people of the left hand; and each will receive the reward of his deeds according to the justice of God. Two important points increased the flame of the fire of jealousy in the hearts of these Nakezeen, whose number does not exceed thirty. One was that the Bahais of all countries refused to accept the seditious books and pamphlets forwarded to them by the Nakezeen. According to the command of BAHA'O'LLAH, they unanimously determined not to pay any attention to these intrigues and temptations, but took shelter, with the utmost union and harmony, under the banner of the CENTER OF THE COVENANT. Another point was that during a short space of time the Cause of God became far more widely spread than before, through the fluent pen and brilliant explanations of ABDUL-BAHA; so the number of the Bahais became enormously multiplied since the Departure of BAHA'O'LLAH. The fame of the Dawning-Place of the Light of the Covenant spread throughout all religions, and His Holy Tablets became scattered as rose-petals throughout all countries. His Great Name has filled the world with awe and the renown of His glorious deeds has reached all in the east and west.
ALTHOUGH the Supreme Horizon is devoid of the vanities of the world, yet in the Treasury of Trust and Resignation We have placed a priceless and unequalled inheritance for the heirs. We have not placed (therein) a treasure, neither have We added to the pain.
By GOD! In wealth fear is concealed and peril is hidden. Behold and then reflect
upon that which the Merciful One hath revealed in the Koran: "Woe unto every maligner
and backbiter who heapeth up riches and counteth them over." There is no continuance
in the riches of this world. That which is subject to mortality and undergoeth a change[Page 7]
hath never been and is not worth regarding. But as is well known, the purpose of this
Oppressed One in enduring these adversities and calamities, the revelation of the Verses
and the manifestation of the Proofs, has been to quench the fire of hatred and animosity,
so that perchance the horizons of the minds of the people of this world may shine with the
light of concord and attain the real tranquillity. The sun of this explanation is shining
and arising from the horizon of the Divine Tablet;—all must look toward it.
O people of the world! I enjoin ye to that which is the means of the elevation of your station. Hold to the virtue of GOD and grasp the hem of that which is just. Verily I say the tongue is for mentioning that which is good; pollute it not with evil speech. GOD hath forgiven ye that which is past; hereafter ye must all speak that which is befitting. Avoid execration, reviling and that which is aggravating to man. The station of man is high. A short while since, this exalted Word was revealed from the Repository of the Pen of ABHA:
"This is a great and blessed Day, but that which has been hidden in man is and shall be disclosed (in this Day)." The station of man is great if he holds to Reality and Truth, and if he be firm and steadfast in the Commands. The true man appeareth before The Merciful One like unto the heavens; his sight and hearing are the sun and moon; his bright and shining qualities are the stars; his station is the highest one; his traces are the educators of the existence. Every believer who hath found the Perfume of the Garment in this Day and turneth with a pure heart toward the Supreme Horizon, he is mentioned as one of the followers of Bahá upon the red Page.
Take the Chalice of My Favor in My Name; then drink from It to My Remembrance, the Dearest, the New !
O people of the world! The Creed of GOD is for love and union; make it not the cause of discord and disunion. In the sight of the men of discernment and those who are holding to the Manifestation, that which is the means of preservation and the cause of the ease and tranquillity of the servants is revealed from the Supreme Pen; but the ignorant of the earth who are fostered in ambition and lust are heedless of the matured Wisdom of the True Wise One and are speaking and working in imaginations and fancies.
O saints of GOD and His loyal ones! Kings are the appearances of power and the day-springs of the might and wealth of the True One. Pray in their behalf, for the government of the earth is ordained to those souls; but the hearts He hath appointed for Himself.
He hath forbidden dispute and strife with an absolute prohibition in the Book (Kitab-el-Akdas). This is the command of GOD in this Greatest Manifestation, and He hath preserved it from any order of annulment and hath adorned it with the ornament of confirmation. Verily He is the All-Knowing and the All-Wise!
It is incumbent upon all to aid those souls who are the day-springs of authority and the dawning-points of command, and who are adorned with the ornament of equity and justice. Blessings be upon the princes and learned ones in Baha. These are My trusted ones amongst My servants; these are the rising-points of My commandments amongst My creatures. Upon them be My Glory, My Mercy and My Grace which have surrounded all the existence!
It is revealed in the Kitab-el-Akdas concerning this, that which from the Horizons of its Words, the Lights of the Divine Bounties gleam, rise, and glitter.
O My Branches! In this Existent Being the greatest strength and the most perfect power is hidden and concealed; look towards It and gaze in the direction of Its union and not at Its seeming differences. This is the TESTAMENT OF GOD, that the Branches (Aghsan), Twigs (Afnan), and Relations (Muntessabeen), must each and every one look to the Greatest Branch (Ghusn Azam). Reflect upon that which is revealed in My Book, The Akdas:—"When the Ocean of My Presence hath disappeared and the Book of Origin is achieved to the end, turn your faces towards Him whom GOD hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Pre-Existent Root." The aim of this blessed verse hath been the Greatest Branch. We have likewise elucidated the Command as a favor from before Us; and I am the Generous, the All-Dispenser!
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Albert R. Windust — EDITORS — Gertrude Buikema
Associate Editor—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Chicago
Terms: $1.00 per year; 10 cents per copy.
Note—Until further notice, distribution in the Orient is through Agents.
Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. III Chicago (November 23, 1912) Kowl No. 14
A WORD TO THE READER:
To those who understand the claim and purpose of the Bahai Teaching the contents of this issue of the STAR OF THE WEST will be clearly apparent; to those who are but slightly familiar with the Movement or who know nothing of the Revelation, its contents may startle and shock.
Our purpose is that "sleepers" become awakened, the "dead" resurrected, the "lame" and "halt" assisted, and the "blind" enlightened.
Although the entire issue is devoted to brief presentations of vital moment to religionists, we trust its contents will cause all seekers for knowledge to investigate thoroughly the precepts of the Bahai Revelation and what it is destined to accomplish throughout the world.
The articles presented are not the ravings of diseased minds, nor the fanatical outbursts of the unbalanced; but are from the heads and hearts of wise men who are recognized authorities on the subjects, having spent years of thorough investigation, and who have personally contacted with both BAHA'O'LLAH and ABDUL-BAHA.
The startling statements regarding the arrival of the Day of GOD; the Appearance on the planet of GOD "The Father," and "The Son" of GOD will undoubtedly be ridiculed by many; but the burden is upon the skeptic to disprove these statements.
A word of explanation, however, should be given regarding the unusual inference and emphasis given to the sacred word "GOD:"—
The Bahai Teaching is, "The root of all knowledge is the Knowledge of GOD, and this Knowledge is impossible save through His Manifestation."
That is, they understand that all the people have formed a God in the world of thought and that form of their own imagination they worship* and acknowledge to be the creator of all things, when in reality, that Essence of the Divine Entity and Unseen of the unseen is holy above imagination and is beyond thought. It is a different realm, arrival thereat is impossible, attainment thereto is prohibited and inaccessible. This much is known: It exists and Its Existence is certain—but the condition is unknown.
As no one hath any access to the Invisible Essence and the way is barred and impassable, therefore the Creator has created a glorious Person among mankind for the Manifestation of this Holy Essence and Single Reality. He has selected a precious Gem among the pure gems of humanity for the showing forth of Its light and traces, so that He may be as a throne for His Essence, a horizon for the rising of the lights of His Splendor, a manifestor of His hidden Reality, a recipient of His Names and Attributes, a tongue to reveal His Revelation and Inspiration; a channel for His Laws and Ordinances, an elucidator of His Signs and Evidences, and a deliverer of His Commands and Messages. Thus through Him becomes manifest, in the first grade and primary station, His Knowledge, Wisdom, Power, Dominion, Grandeur, Will, Beauty, Glory, Grace, Perfection, Mercy and Beneficence.
Such an excellent Person, glorious Man, preserved Gem and greatest Name must needs exist in every cycle, age and time, in order to be the Channel of the Knowledge of GOD,
*Polytheism (see Tablet of "The Branch," page
15.)[Page 9]
so that the proofs of GOD, His evidences and signs may not be void, the breeze of Devotion and Sanctity may not be hushed, the door of Faith and Assurance may not be closed and that mankind may not be finally lost in barbarism.
Furthermore, they understand that the Prophets and Messengers have all declared that at "the time of the end," a "child would be born," a Form would appear Manifesting completely the Qualities of Divinity; and this mighty MANIFESTATION of Manifestations would be the recipient of the greatest Names and Titles revealed in the Heavenly Scriptures: "KING of Kings," "LORD of Lords," "Wonderful," "Counsellor," "The Everlasting FATHER," "The Mighty GOD!" (Rev. 1:18; XIX:16; XXI:3, 22; Isaiah IX:6.) All men are commanded to turn their faces toward Him* for He is the "Dawning-place of Divinity," the "Manifestation of Deity," the "Ultimate Goal," the "Adored One" of all, and the "Worshipped One" of all—in a word: "HE IS GOD!"—otherwise, whatever flashes through the mind is not that Essence of essences and Reality of realities; nay, rather it is pure imagination and returns to the realm of suppositions and conjectures.
As the Bahais believe and declare that this, "Mighty MANIFESTATION" and "Promised GOD" has come in the Appearance of BAHA'O'LLAH—Unto Him be blessing, honor, glory and power forever and ever!—therefore they adorn their books and epistles with holy utterances, such as: "In the Name of GOD, BAHA'O'LLAH-EL-ABHA!" and similar phrases, while Abdul-Baha adorns his Tablets with the all inclusive declaration: "HE IS GOD!†
"THE CENTER OF THE COVENANT."
As the twenty-sixth of November is known among the Bahais as the "Feast of the Appointment of the Center of the Covenant," the STAR OF THE WEST devotes this issue to a presentation of the important question of the CENTER OF THE COVENANT.
During Abdul-Baha's sojourn in America, he awakened the friends to a realization of the greatness of this matter and the necessity of
*Monotheism (see Tablet of "The Branch," page 15).
† "All people worship an imagination, for they have created a God in the realm of imagination and him they worship. If you ask a soul, when he is praying, 'Who are you worshipping?' He will say, 'God.' 'Which God?' 'The God of my conception.' The truth is, what he imagines is not GOD. Hence, all people are worshippers of imaginations and Ideals. Consequently, there is no pathway for man except the Holy Manifestations, for the Essence of Divinity is pure, is holy, and cannot be brought into the world of ideas. That which can be brought to ideation are the Holy and Divine Manifestations. Further than this, man has no other point for concentration; if he exceed that bound, it is an imagination. Therefore, the purpose of the phrase 'HE IS GOD!' is this: The visible Majesty and Promised Beauty of the Sun of Reality, the Manifestation of the mysteries of Divinity and Deity, the Revealer of the mysteries of the Merciful, the Origin of the signs of Singleness; and I begin with His Blessed Name."—ABDUL-BAHA.
understanding it and turning to the appointed Center and remaining firm therein, saying:—
"Today, the most important affair is firmness in The Covenant, because firmness in The Covenant wards off differences.
"In former cycles no distinct Covenant was made in writing by the Supreme Pen; no distinct personage was appointed to be the Standard differentiating falsehood from truth, so that whatsoever he said was to stand as truth and that which he repudiated was to be known as falsehood. At most, His Holiness Jesus Christ gave only an intimation, a symbol, and that was but an indication of the solidity of Peter's faith. When he mentioned his faith, His Holiness said, 'Thou art Peter'—which means rock—'and upon this rock will I build my church.' This was a sanction of Peter's faith; it was not indicative of his (Peter) being the expounder of the Book, but was a confirmation of Peter's faith.
"But in this Dispensation of the Blessed Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) among its distinctions is that He did not leave people in perplexity. He entered into a Covenant and Testament with the people. He appointed a CENTER OF THE COVENANT. He wrote with His own pen and revealed it in the Kitab-el-Akdas, the Book of Laws, and Kitab-el-Ah'd, the Book of the Covenant, appointing him (Abdul-Baha) the Expounder of the Book. You must ask him (Abdul-Baha) regarding the meanings of the texts of the verses. Whatsoever he says is correct. Outside of this, in numerous Tablets He (BAHA'O'LLAH) has explicitly recorded it, with clear, sufficient, valid and forceful statements. In the Tablet of THE BRANCH He explicitly states: Whatsoever THE BRANCH says is right, or correct; and every person must obey THE BRANCH with his life, with his heart, with his tongue. Without his will, not a word shall anyone utter. This is an explicit text of the Blessed Beauty. So there is no excuse left for anybody. No soul shall, of himself, speak anything:* Whatsoever his (Abdul-Baha's) tongue utters, whatsoever his pen records, that is correct; according to the explicit text of BAHA'O'LLAH in the Tablet of THE BRANCH.
"His Holiness Abraham covenanted with regard to Moses. His Holiness Moses was the Promised One of Abraham, and He, Moses, covenanted with regard to His Holiness Christ, saying that Christ was the Promised One. His Holiness Christ covenanted with regard to His Holiness 'The Paraclete,' which means His Holiness Mohammed. His Holiness Mohammed covenanted as regards The Bab, whom He called, 'My Promised One,' His Holiness The Bab, in all His books, in all His epistles, explicitly covenanted with regard to
*BAHA'O'LLAH's admonitions to the teacher:
"The effect of the word spoken by the teacher depends
upon his purity of purpose and his severance" . . .
"The words must be according to what
has proceeded from the Mouth of the Will of GOD
and is recorded in Tablets"; and His command to
turn to Abdul-Baha's interpretation thereof, also
recorded in Tablets, is what we understand by
these statements.—EDITORS.[Page 10]
the Blessed Beauty, BAHA'O'LLAH, that BAHA'O'LLAH was the Promised One of His Holiness The Bab. His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH covenanted, not that I (Abdul-Baha) am the Promised One, but that Abdul-Baha is the Expounder of the Book and the CENTRE OF HIS COVENANT, and that the Promised One of BAHA'O'LLAH will appear after one thousand or thousands of years. This is the Covenant which BAHA'O'LLAH made. If a person shall deviate, he is not acceptable at the Threshold of BAHA'O'LLAH. In case of difference, Abdul-Baha must be consulted. They must revolve around his good pleasure. After Abdul-Baha, whenever the Universal House of Justice is organized it will ward off differences.
"Now I pray for you that GOD may aid you, may confirm you, may appoint you for His service; that He may suffer you to be as radiant candles; that He may accept you in His Kingdom; that He may make you the cause of the spread of the light of BAHA'O'LLAH in these countries, and that the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH may be spread broadcast.
"I pray for you, and I am pleased with all of you, each one, one by one; and I pray that GOD may aid and confirm you. . . . At present, farewell to you!" The Editors.
Verily GOD hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch (Ghusn Akbar) after the station of the former. Verily He is the Ordainer, the Wise. We have surely chosen the Greater (Akbar) after the Greatest (Azam) as a Command from the All-Knowing, the Omniscient!
The love of the Branches is incumbent upon all, but GOD hath not ordained to them any right from the properties of people.
O My Branches, My Twigs and My Relations! We enjoin ye to the virtue of GOD, to follow that which is just and benefiting, and that by which your station will be exalted. Truly I say, piety is the greatest commander for the assistance of the Divine Religion, and the hosts that befit this commander have been and are good, pure and pleasing qualities and deeds.
Say: O servants, make not the causes of order to be the cause of confusion, and make not the reason of union to be the occasion of discord! It is hoped that the people of Baha will look towards the blessed Word "Say: all are from the Presence of GOD"—and this exalted Word resembles water for extinguishing the fire of hatred and animosity which is deposited in all minds and hearts. The different creeds will attain the light of real union through this simple Word. Verily He sayeth the Truth and guideth in the Path, and He is the Powerful, the Mighty, and the Wonderful!
Respect and regard for the Branches is incumbent upon all for the honoring of the Religion and the exaltation of the Word; and this Command hath been both previously and afterwards recorded and mentioned in the Books of GOD. Blessed is he who attaineth to that which hath been commanded from the Presence of the Commander, the Pre-Existent!
Also respect (is enjoined) for the Ladies of the Household of GOD and the Twigs and the Relations. I enjoin ye to the service of the nations and to the pacification of the world.
From the Kingdom of the Revelation of the Aim of the people of the world, is revealed that which is the Cause of the Life of the world and the salvation of the nations. Hearken to the admonitions of the Supreme Pen with the true ear. Verily they are better unto ye than all that which is upon earth. To this beareth witness My Book, the Mighty, the Wonderful!
A brief presentation of Old and New Testament prophecies fulfilled in the Appearance of BAHA'O'LLAH and ABDUL-BAHA.
Selections from Addresses of Abdel Karim Effendi.
In the Name of GOD, the Most Glorious!IN Matthew, tenth chapter, seventh verse,
Jesus says: "And as ye go, preach, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is at hand"; also
in the twenty-third chapter, verse twenty-ninth:
"For I say unto you ye shall not see
me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he
that cometh in the name of the Lord," which
shows that the Son of Man shall not be seen
again until the time when He shall come in
the Kingdom of His Father, which hath appeared[Page 11]
in these days in the Name of the Lord
of the earth.
Look at the twenty-third chapter of Deuteronomy, second verse: "And he said: The Lord came from Sinai—and rose up from Seir unto them—he shined forth from Mount Paran—and he came with ten thousand of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them."
This means, four appearances of GOD; the first refers to the time when GOD appeared to Moses in Mount Sinai; the second, to Christ in the Name of the Son; the third, to Mohammed from Mount Paran; and the fourth in BAHA'O'LLAH, when He, GOD, "The Almighty," came with ten thousand of His saints.
Read the fourteenth verse of the epistle of Jude: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints."
Read also from the ninth to the sixty-first Psalms and consider well what is therein mentioned, that their hidden meaning may be revealed unto you; also from Isaiah first to sixty-first chapters, which refers to the emblems and symbols of the coming of the "Day of GOD"; also Zechariah the eighth chapter. In all these reference is made to the appearance of the Father and the Son.
Read the thirty-first chapter of Ezekiel; also eighth to the twelfth chapters of Daniel, where reference is made to the empire of Cyrus, who is known by the name of Chasroes, and to the vision seen by Daniel, especially the twelfth chapter which refers to 1290 days, i. e., 1290 years from the higera of Mohammed. In all these places, as well as many others, there are sufficient proofs to convince anyone of the coming of GOD.
* * * * * * *
Then know, O people, that upon the Day when GOD, "The Almighty"—in the form of man, known as BAHA'O'LLAH—declared Himself* and uttered to the inhabitants of the contingent world, to the mountains, hilltops, trees, grass, shrubs, flowers, weeds, stones, sands, seas, winds, waves, and every atom comprising the earth, and all the ethers comprising the air: "I AM GOD AND THERE IS NO GOD BUT ME!"—the old heaven and the old earth passed away and was no more, and from that moment all things became new and that which was, was not!
*On April 21, 1863, A.D., in the Garden of El-Rizwan (Paradise) in Bagdad.
That Day marked the era of a new creation, a new people, a new heaven, and a new earth! And the secret Word—the Word of Mystery mentioned first by Adam, then by the Prophets, Messengers, Christ, and later by Mohammed, then by the Bab—that Word became flesh and dwelt among men. Its Power and Glory was flashed from heaven to earth when BAHA'O'LLAH stood up and declared: "I AM GOD AND THERE IS NO GOD BUT ME, THE ANCIENT, THE EVERLASTING, THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, THE ALMIGHTY, THE POTENT!
Then know, O people, at that time the earth trembled and did quake, the heavens rolled together as a scroll, and in less than the twinkling of an eye all things passed away and GOD alone existed!
Then from the Shining Mouth of the Living Word went forth the command "BE!"—and in another twinkling, a new creation was!
Then know, O ye who are seeking for knowledge, that the first creature of this new and extraordinary creation to come forth, recognize and acknowledge "The-Word-Made-Manifest," was His first begotten Son—in the form of man, ABDUL-BAHA—who professed, testified and confessed to the Appearance of GOD "The Almighty," "The Heavenly Father," by saying: "THOU ART GOD! THOU ART THE WORSHIPPED! THOU ART THE FATHER OF THE SPIRITS! THOU ART THE CREATOR OF WHAT WAS AND NOW IS! O GOD, HERE I AM, I AM READY!"
Therefore, He is the first fruit of those who slept and the first to believe in GOD and in the fulfillment of the Promised Day, which is in accordance with what GOD hath said in the Book of Names: "Thou testifieth for Me and I testify for Thee," and this testimony was recorded in Kitab-el-Akdas (The Most Holy Book) and Kitab-el-Ah'd (The Book of the Covenant).
Not only is the Will of GOD recorded in these Books, but in many Tablets He states: "Blessed is the Land which is honored by the Visit of one of Thy Beloved; exalted is he who comes into Thy Presence; and opened is the eye which seest Thy Beauty!" Also in Surat-ul-Hykl He says: "This is the Day which is not followed by the night!"
Think over these words, O ye people, that
ye may know and realize the great station
of the CENTER OF THE COVENANT, and arise
for the service of His Commands throughout
the cities and regions of America, for His[Page 12]
fields are white unto the harvest, but His
laborers are few, very few!
O people! Did you know the value of these days in which we are living, you would give up the treasures of the earth—yea, even life itself—to fulfill but one of His Commandments!
From all of His matchless Addresses, merciful Tablets, Messages and tender words, you hear but the one prayer, the one pleading, that you shall be united together in soul and spirit and be loving and kind to each other.
* * * * * * * *
O friends of Jesus Christ! know that the promises of nineteen hundred years ago are today fulfilled, and that the Son of Man is here in "the Kingdom of His Father," holding out His loving arms toward the North, South, East and West, while His Voice is calling, ever calling:
"O people! The Doors of the Kingdom are opened; the Sun of Truth is shining upon the world; the Fountains of Life are flowing; the Daysprings of Mercy have appeared; the Greatest and Most Glorious Light is now manifest to illuminate the hearts of men. Wake up and hear the Voice of GOD calling from all parts of the Supreme World—'Come unto Me, O ye children of men; come unto Me, O ye who are thirsty, and drink from this sweet Water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe.'
"Now is the time! Now is the Accepted Time!
"Look ye at the time of Christ;—had the people realized that the Holy Spirit of GOD was speaking to them through His Divine Mouth, they would not have waited three centuries before accepting Him. And now is it meet for you that you are sleeping upon the beds of idleness and neglect, while THE FATHER whose coming Christ foretold has come among us, and opened the Greatest Door of Bounteous Gifts and Divine Favors? Let us not be like those in past centuries, who were deaf to His Call, and blind to His Beauty; but let us try and open our eyes, that we may see Him; and open our ears that we may hear Him; and cleanse our hearts that He may come and abide in our temples. These days are the days of Faith and Deeds—not the days of words and lip service: Let us arise from the sleep of negligence, and realize what a great feast is prepared for us; first eating thereof ourselves, then giving unto others who are thirsting for the Water of Knowledge, and hungering for the Bread of Life. These Great Days are swiftly passing; and once gone they can never be recalled. So while the Rays of the Sun of Truth are still shining and the 'Center of the Covenant of GOD' is manifest, let us go forth to work. * * * *
"The Light of Knowledge hath appeared, before which the darkness of every superstitious fancy will be annihilated. The Hosts of the Supreme Concourse are descending to assist all those who rise up to serve their Lord, to subdue and gain the victory over the city of the hearts; to proclaim the Glad-Tidings of the Coming of GOD and to unite the souls of His creatures."
Written by Mirza Abul Fazl, November 24, and read in Washington, D.C., November 26, 1902, at the celebration of the anniversary of the Feast of the Appointment of The Center of the Covenant.
In the Name of GOD, the Most Holy, the ABHA!O YE beloved of God and His friends!
Praise and glorification behoove the
Holy Court of the True One, the Exalted,
who has, in this great age and wonderful
cycle, primarily caused the Shining
Star of the Blessed Being of the First Point
(The Bab) to appear like unto the beaming
orb of the morn from the horizon of the
world; has rejoiced and revived the creatures
through the glad tidings of the advent of the
New Day, and the Manifestation of the Glorious
Lord. Praise be to God! Who subsequently
caused the Sun of the Most Holy
Beauty of El-ABHA (Exalted is His Supreme
Name!) to dawn forth in the midst of the
heaven of power and grandeur. After the
disappearance of these two Lights a third
Splendor became manifest from the Sinai of
Epiphany, and the Orb of THE COVENANT
shone forth from the firmament of beatitude,
the apex of exaltation and glory, with the
most marvelous effulgence. Through these
three Shining Lights, the darkness of the
nations, superstitions, will be dispelled, the
dust of discord of the people will be subsided
by the showers of mercy descending[Page 13]
from the clouds of Divine Providence; the
banner of peace will be hoisted; the mortal
world will be clothed in the excellent robe
of ideal humanity; the bond of perfect love
will be strengthened among contradictory nations
and repugnant peoples; and the world,
east and west, will become the Paradise of
El-ABHA and as a garden bringing forth
fruits of Divine Grace. We, therefore, praise
Him in such glorification from which the
lights of sincerity may gleam forth and scintillate
throughout ages and epochs; and we
thank Him in such sanctification from which
the pure fragrances of meekness and humbleness
will be diffused and exhaled with the
duration of nights and days!
O ye beloved of God and His friends! This Great Day has been assigned to the Blessed Name of the Lord of the world, the Sign of Pre-existence, the standard of Divine victory among nations, the Light of the heaven and the earth, the Point around which the Supreme Concourse revolves, in the kingdom of Names—His Holiness, ABDUL-BAHA (May the life of the creatures be a sacrifice to Him!)! Ye are all attracted to His Love, united in His servitude, overshadowed under His banner, and are assembled together in this excellent meeting, with rejoiced hearts and shining faces, speaking the praise of the Most Holy Beauty of El-ABHA, and uttering the glorification of the CENTER OF HIS COVENANT, His Holiness, ABDUL-BAHA.
How can this servant duly praise and thank God, the Exalted, who hath enabled him to make his tongue fluent in glorifying the CENTER OF THE COVENANT in this wonderful meeting, in the presence of His chosen ones and friends? Again I praise Him for this wondrous confirmation and glorious success. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy!
How can this weak one befittingly glorify and sanctify a Most Holy Personage with whose Name all the ancient and heavenly Books are adorned and who has been announced and prophesied by the tongue of the prophets and chosen ones, from the beginning to the end? Every prophetic page seems like unto a heaven, studded with the beaming stars and shining pearls of the praises of the Orb of the Universe; or like unto a rose-garden decked and embellished by the verdant leaves and fragrant flowers of the glorification of the CENTER OF THE COVENANT. Again we praise Him with such words whereby hearts are cheered and breasts are dilated, and we thank Him in such hymns whereby the light of bliss and beatitude shine forth from the horizon of the hearts!
O ye beloved of God and His friends! Consider how in the second Psalm David (Peace be upon him!) has announced the appearance of the SON OF GOD in dominion and judgment, and how he hath warned the kings and judges of the earth to serve Him! Consider in the fourth chapter of Isaiah how that great prophet has foretold the appearance of the Exalted BRANCH of the Lord in the utmost beauty and glory, and how God hath appointed Him a place of refuge for the saved ones. Consider how Isaiah has spoken in the eleventh chapter of his book that the lofty BRANCH of the BLESSED TREE shall appear from the root of David, and shall grow out of the Holy Lands; how the spirit of supremacy and power, of counsel and Divine wisdom shall rest upon Him; the lights of glory and divine grandeur shall beam forth from His Shining Face; how He shall hoist the pavilion of universal Peace and Divine equity, and assemble all the various and contradictory nations, including weak and strong, high and low, under the shadow of union and harmony.
Reflect upon the 26th verse of the 30th chapter of the book of Isaiah, how God the Almighty, has clearly spoken that in the day when Israel shall be saved, and the sins and errors of the heirs of Abraham effaced, the Shining Moon of the CENTER OF THE COVENANT shall gleam forth in the utmost Glory and Splendor, and the beaming lights scintillating from the brilliant Face of that dawning-place of Supremacy and Lordship shall be like unto the Sun of Truth! Consider how, in the first few verses of the 42d chapter of Isaiah, it is clearly shown that in the last day, God, the Exalted, shall elect the Bearer of the Banner of His servitude, confer upon Him the Holy Spirit of His Divinity, unfurl the standard of the SUPREME COVENANT AND TESTAMENT in His Name, and shall protect Him, with His Strong Hand, from the deceit of the violators and the devices of the people of rancor; that Servant of the Lord shall become a Banner for the people's salvation and a Light for hearts and souls; shall restore the blind and deliver the captives; direct those who sit in darkness unto light; place all the creatures under the standard of universal peace, security and absolute emancipation, and make the tongues of all in the east and west fluent in new hymns and wonderful glorifications!
Likewise, consider the 7th chapter of Daniel.[Page 14]
First, in the 9th and 10th verses, God
hath announced the Manifestation of the Great
Lord, the Ancient King, the Most Holy Beauty
of ABHA (Glorified is His Supreme Name!)
and hath spoken of the founding of the sound
religion and manifest law and of the rise of
the hosts of chosen ones and holy ones.
Then He hath said in the 13th and 14th verses of the same chapter that the Excellent BRANCH shall be extended from that Ancient Root, and the Spirit of God descended from Heaven shall shine forth from His Beaming Face, and Glory and Kingdom shall be conferred upon Him from God; His command shall influence all nations and multitudes, and His Kingdom shall continue forever.
Likewise, consider the 8th and 9th verses of the 3rd chapter of Zechariah, where the great prophet has clearly prophesied that in the day of the Most Great Manifestation, the dawning of the Sun of the Ancient Beauty, God, the Exalted, shall bring about the removal of the nations' iniquity and the elimination of the people's calamities by the rise of that Excellent BRANCH extended from the Pre-existent Root; and He hath made the restoration of the Holy Lands, the covenanted country of the prophets and chosen ones, dependent upon the power of that Blessed Being.
Likewise, in the 12th and 13th verses of the 6th chapter of the same book, God, the Exalted, hath explicitly promised Zechariah that in the Day of the Lord's Manifestation the Blessed BRANCH shall grow up out of the Pure Tree of Divinity, shall bear the Glory of the Lord, shall sit and rule upon His Throne, and shall build the Temple of the Divine worship; the banner of universal peace and eternal beatitude shall be hoisted among all mankind through the council of peace held between the BRANCH and the LORD.
Consider the New Testament: in every instant in which His Holiness, Christ (Glory be to Him!) and His eminent disciples have announced the coming of the Kingdom of God, they have spoken of the rising of the Excellent BRANCH and of the dawning of the ORB OF THE COVENANT. Especially His Holiness, John, has adorned all the prophecies of his Book of Revelation with this Glorious Name, and has clearly stated the appearance of the Covenant of God in the Day of the Lord's Manifestation. He has explicitly said that in that Great Day, the New Holy City shall be illuminated with lights shining from the Face of the Lord and His appointed BRANCH; the rivers of wonderful enlightenments, which would impart life to the people of the world and save nations, shall flow forth from the Throne of the Lord and that of the CENTER OF HIS COVENANT. Nay, rather, he hath elucidated that those written in the Book of Life of the Excellent BRANCH shall be saved, and those overshadowed under His Ancient Standard shall inherit everlasting glory.
To resume: the tongues of all the prophets sung the praise of His Blessed Name, and the hearts of the chosen ones rejoiced at the announcement of His coming, until that Most Holy Being was born in the Day* of the Manifestation of the "First Point" (Exalted is His Supreme Name!). The birthday of the "BRANCH extended from the Ancient Root," coincided with the day of the appearance of the Lord's precursor, and the "Mystery of God" was realized by this coincidence. In His childhood He was nurtured under the favors of the Most Holy Beauty of El-ABHA, until, at the age of nine, He escorted the Ancient Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) from Teheran to Bagdad. He shared with the Beauty of El-ABHA in every calamity and affliction during their exile from Bagdad to Constantinople, Adrianople, and finally to Acca (the prison), and endured unbearable sufferings. The Tongue of Grandeur was always uttering the greatness of His station, and appointed His Holiness, the Excellent BRANCH, to the position of the "CENTER OF THE COVENANT." In a Tablet revealed by the Beauty of El-ABHA to ABDUL-BAHA, while the latter was in Beyrout, He said: "We have appointed Thee a protection to all the creatures, a guardian to all in the Heaven and the earth, and a fortress to those who believe in God, the One, the Omniscient!"
O ye beloved of God! How can I duly praise the Lord of mankind, the CENTER OF THE COVENANT (May the life of all the creatures be a sacrifice to Him!), and how can I explain the loftiness of His station! For He is the One Whom all the Divine Manifestations have praised and extolled.
Let us now offer our humble efforts in praising and glorifying God, the Exalted, Who has honored us by serving the CENTER OF HIS COVENANT, hath made us know in His Name, and hath placed us under the shadow of His Glorious Banner. We thank Him in such praises whereby the faces of the steadfast ones are illuminated!
Praise be to God, the King of the Heaven and the earth!
(Signed) ABUL FAZL.
*May 23, 1844 A. D.[Page 15]
[This has been revealed in Adrianople for Mirza Ali Riza in order that he may be nourished by the Favors of GOD]:
VERILY the Cause of GOD hath come upon the Clouds of Utterances and the polytheists are in this Day in great torment. Verily the Hosts of Revelation have descended with Banners of Inspiration from the Heaven of the Tablet in the Name of GOD, the Powerful, the Mighty. At this time the monotheists all rejoice in the Victory of GOD and His dominion and the deniers will then be in manifest perplexity.
O ye people! Do ye flee from the Mercy of GOD after it hath encompassed the existent things created between the heavens and earths? Beware lest ye prefer your own selves before the Mercy of GOD, and deprive not yourselves thereof. Verily whosoever turneth away therefrom will be in great loss. Verily Mercy is like unto Verses which have descended from the one heaven and from them the monotheists drink the choice wine of Life, whilst the polytheists drink from the fiery water (Hameem); and when the Verses of GOD are read unto them, the fire of hatred is enkindled within their breasts. Thus have they preferred their own selves before the Mercy of GOD, and are of those who are heedless.
Enter, O people, beneath the shelter of the Word:—then drink therefrom the choice wine of Inner Significances and Utterances; for therein is hidden the Kawther of the Glorious One—and it hath appeared from the horizon of the Will of your Lord, the Merciful, with wonderful lights.
Say: Verily the Ocean of Pre-existence hath branched forth from this Most Great Ocean. Blessed therefore is he who abides upon Its shores, and is of those who are established thereon. Verily this Most Sacred Temple of ABHA—the BRANCH OF HOLINESS—hath branched forth from the Sadrat-el-Muntaha; Blessed is whosoever has sought shelter beneath It and is of those who rest therein!
Say: Verily the BRANCH OF COMMAND hath sprung forth from this ROOT which GOD hath firmly planted in the ground of the Will, the LIMB of which hath been elevated to a station which encompasses all existence. Therefore exalted be He for this Creation, the Lofty, the Blessed, the Inaccessible, the Mighty!
O ye people! draw night unto It* and taste the fruits of Its Knowledge and Wisdom on the part of the Mighty, the Knowing One. Whosoever will not taste thereof shall be deprived of the Bounty, even though he hath partaken of all that is in the earth—were ye of those who know.
Say: Verily a Word hath gone forth in favor from the Most Great Tablet and GOD hath adorned It with the Mantle of Himself and made It Sovereign over all in the earth and a Sign of His Grandeur and Omnipotence among the creatures; in order that, through It, the people shall praise their Lord the Mighty, the Powerful, the Wise; and that, through It, they shall glorify their Creator and sanctify the Self of GOD which standeth within all things. Verily this is naught but a Revelation upon the part of the Wise, the Ancient One! Say: O people, praise ye GOD for Its Manifestation (THE BRANCH), for verily It (THE BRANCH) is the Most Great Favor upon you and the Most Perfect Blessing upon you; and through Him every mouldering bone is quickened. Whosoever turns to Him hath surely turned unto GOD and whosoever turneth away from Him hath turned away from My Beauty, denied My Proof and is of those who transgress. Verily, He is the Remembrance of GOD amongst you and His Trust within you and His Manifestation unto you and His Appearance among the servants who are nigh. Thus have I been commanded to convey to you the Message of GOD, your Creator; and I have delivered to you that of which I was commanded. Whereupon, thereunto testifieth GOD, then His Angels, then His Messengers, and then His Holy Servants.
Inhale the fragrances of the Rizwan from His roses and be not of those who are
*THE BRANCH referred to in this Tablet both as "It" and "His."[Page 16]
deprived. Appreciate the Bounty of GOD upon you and be not veiled therefrom—and verily We have sent Him forth in the temple of man. Thus praise ye the Lord, the Originator of whatsoever He willeth through His wise and inviolable command!
Verily those who withhold themselves from the Shelter of THE BRANCH are indeed lost in the wilderness of perplexity,—and are consumed by the heat of self-desire,—and are of those who perish.
Hasten, O people, unto the Shelter of GOD, in order that He may protect you from the heat of the Day whereon none shall find for himself any refuge or shelter except beneath the Shelter of His Name, the Clement, the Forgiving. Clothe yourselves, O people, with the Garment of Assurance, in order that He may protect you from the dart of doubts and superstitions, and that ye may be of those who are assured in those days wherein none shall ever be assured and none shall be firmly established in the Cause except by severing himself from all that is possessed by the people and turning unto the Holy and Radiant Outlook.
O ye people! Do ye take unto yourselves the Jebt* as a helper other than GOD, and do ye seek the Taghoot† as a lord beside your Lord the Almighty, the Omnipotent? Forsake, O people, their mention, then hold the Chalice of Life in the Name of your Lord the Merciful. Verily by GOD, the existent world is quickened through a drop thereof, were ye of those who know.
Say: In that Day there is no refuge for any one save the Command of GOD, and no salvation for any soul but GOD, Verily this is the truth and there is naught after truth but manifest error.
Verily GOD hath made it incumbent upon every soul to deliver His Cause (the Message) according to his ability. Thus hath the Command been recorded by the Finger of Might and Power upon the Tablet of Majesty and Greatness.
Whosoever quickens one soul in this Cause is like unto one quickening all the servants and the Lord shall bring him forth in the Day of Resurrection into the Rizwan of Oneness, adorned with the Mantle of Himself, the Protector, the Mighty, the Generous. Thus will ye assist your Lord, and naught else save this shall ever be mentioned in this Day before GOD your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.
As to thee, O servant: hearken unto the admonition given unto thee in this Tablet; then seek the Grace of thy Lord at all times. Then spread the Tablet among those who believe in GOD and in His Verses; so that they may follow that which is contained therein, and be of those who are praiseworthy.
Say: O people, cause no corruption in the earth and dispute not with men; for verily this is not worthy of those who have chosen in the shelter of their Lord a station which shall indeed remain secure.
If ye find one athirst, give him to drink from the Chalice of Kawther and Tasneen; and if ye find one endowed with an attentive ear, read unto him the Verses of GOD, the Mighty, the Merciful, the Compassionate! Unloose the tongue with excellent utterance, then admonish the people if ye find them advancing unto the sanctuary of GOD; otherwise abandon them unto themselves and forsake them in the abyss of hell. Beware lest ye scatter the pearls of Inner Significance before every barren, dumb one. Verily the blind are deprived of witnessing the Lights and are unable to distinguish between the stone and the holy, precious pearl.
Verily wert thou to read the most mighty, wonderful Verses to the stone for a thousand years, will it understand, or will they take any effect therein? No! by thy Lord the Merciful, the Clement! If thou readest all the Verses of GOD unto the deaf, will he hear a single letter? No! Verily by the Beauty, the Mighty, the Ancient!
Thus have We delivered unto thee some of the jewels of Wisdom and Utterance, in order that thou mayest gaze unto the direction of thy Lord and be severed from all the creatures. May the Spirit and Glory rest upon thee, and upon those who dwell upon the plain of Holiness and who remain in the Cause of their Lord in manifest steadfastness!
| *An idol worshipped by the ancient Egyptians from which "Egypt" was derived. | † Another idol. |
