All-praise to Him Who, by the Shield of His Covenant, hath guarded the
Temple of His Cause from the darts of doubtfulness, Who by the Hosts of
His Testament hath preserved the Sanctuary of His Most Beneficent Law and
protected His Straight and Luminous Path, staying thereby the onslaught
of the company of Covenant-breakers, that have threatened to subvert His
Divine Edifice; Who hath watched over His Mighty Stronghold and All-glorious
Faith, through the aid of men whom the slander of the slanderer affect not,
whom no earthly calling, glory and power can turn aside from the Covenant
of God and His Testament, established firmly by His clear and manifest words,
writ and revealed by His All-Glorious Pen and recorded in the Preserved
Tablet 0 my Lord, my heart's Desire, Thou Whom I ever invoke, Thou Who art my Aider
and my Shelter, my Helper and my Refuge! Thou seest me submerged in an ocean
of calamities that overwhelm the soul, of afflictions that oppress the heart,
of woes that disperse Thy gathering, of ills and pains that scatter Thy
flock. Sore trials have compassed me round and perils have from all sides
beset me. Thou seest me immersed in a sea of unsurpassed tribulation, sunk
into a fathomless abyss, afflicted by mine enemies and consumed with the
flame of their hate, enkindled by my kinsmen with whom Thou didst make Thy
strong Covenant and Thy firm Testament, wherein Thou biddest them turn their
hearts to this wronged one, to keep away from me the foolish, the unjust,
and refer unto this lonely one all that about which they differ in Thy Holy
Book, so that the Truth may be revealed unto them, their doubts may be dispelled
and Thy manifest Signs be spread abroad. O my God! my Beloved, my heart's Desire! Thou knowest, Thou seest that
which hath befallen this servant of Thine, that hath humbled himself at
Thy Door, and Thou knowest the sins committed against him by the people
of malice, they that have broken Thy Covenant and turned their backs on
Thy Testament. In the day-time they afflicted me with the arrows of hate
and in the night-season they privily conspired to hurt me. At dawn they
committed that which the Celestial Concourse did lament and at eventide
they unsheathed against me the sword of tyranny and hurled in the presence
of the ungodly their darts of calumny upon me. Notwithstanding their misdeeds,
this lowly servant of Thine was patient and did endure every affliction
and trial at their hands, though by Thy power and might he could have destroyed
their words, quenched their fire and stayed the flame of their rebelliousness.
Salutation and praise, blessing and glory rest upon that primal branch of
the Divine and Sacred Lote-Tree, grown out, blest, tender, verdant and flourishing
from the Twin Holy Trees; the most wondrous, unique and priceless pearl
that doth gleam from out the Twin surging seas; upon the offshoots of the
Tree of Holiness, the twigs of the Celestial Tree, they that in the Day
of the Great Dividing have stood fast and firm in the Covenant; upon the
Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God that have diffused widely the Divine
Fragrances, declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad
His Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness
in this world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts
and souls of His servants; upon them that have believed, rested assured,
stood steadfast in His Covenant and followed the Light that after my passing
shineth from the Dayspring of Divine Guidancefor behold! he is the
blest and sacred bough that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees.
Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth
all mankind.
0 ye beloved of the Lord! The greatest of all things is the protection of
the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law, the safeguarding of
His Cause and service unto His Word. Ten thousand souls have shed streams
of their sacred blood in this path, their precious lives they offered in
sacrifice unto Him, hastened wrapt in holy ecstasy unto the glorious field
of martyrdom, upraised the Standard of God's Faith and writ with their life-blood
upon the Tablet of the world the verses of His Divine Unity. The sacred
breast of His Holiness, the Exalted One (may my life be a sacrifice unto
Him), was made a target to many a dart of woe, and in Mazindaran, the blessed
feet of the Abhá Beauty (may my life be offered up for His loved
ones) were so grievously scourged as to bleed and be sore wounded. His neck
also was put into captive chains and His feet made fast in the stocks. In
every hour, for a period of fifty years, a new trial and calamity befell
Him and fresh afflictions and care beset Him. One of them:after having suffered
intense vicissitudes, He was made homeless and a wanderer and fell a victim
to still new vexations and troubles. In 'Iráq, the Day-Star of the
world was so exposed to the wiles of the people of malice as to be eclipsed
in splendor. Later on He was sent an exile to the Great City (Constantinople)
and thence to the Land of Mystery (Adrianople), whence grievously wronged,
He was eventually transferred to the Most Great Prison ('Akká). He
Whom the world hath wronged (may my life be offered up for His loved ones)
was four times banished from city to city, till at last, condemned to perpetual
confinement, He was incarcerated in this prison, the prison of highway robbers,
of brigands and of man-slavers. All this is but one of the trials that have
afflicted the Blessed Beauty, the rest being even as grievous as this.
And still another of His trials was the hostility, the flagrant injustice,
the iniquity and rebellion of Mírzá Yahyá. Although
that Wronged One, that Prisoner, had through His loving kindness nurtured
him in His own bosom ever since his early years, had showered at every moment
His tender care upon him, exalted his name, shielded him from every misfortune,
endeared him to them of this world and the next, and despite the firm exhortations
and counsels of His Holiness, the Exalted One (the Báb) and His clear
and conclusive warning;"Beware, beware, lest the Nineteen
Letters of the Living and that which hath been revealed in the Bayan veil
thee!" yet notwithstanding this, Mírzá Yahyá
denied Him, dealt falsely with Him, believed Him not, sowed the seeds of
doubt, closed his eyes to His manifest verses and turned aside therefrom.
Would that he had been con tent therewith! Nay, he even attempted to shed
the sacred blood (of Bahá'u'lláh) and then raised a great
clamor and tumult around him, attributing unto Bahá'u'lláh
malevolence and cruelty towards himself. What sedition he stirred up and
what a storm of mischief he raised whilst in the Land of Mystery (Adrianople)!
At last, he wrought that which caused the DayStar of the world to be sent
an exile to this, the Most Great Prison, and sorely wronged and in the West
of this Great Prison He did set.
O ye that stand fast and firm in the Covenant! The Center of Sedition, the
Prime Mover of mischief, Mírzá Muhammad-'Alí, hath
passed out from under the shadow of the Cause, hath broken the Covenant,
hath falsified the Holy Text, hath inflicted a grievous loss upon the true
Faith of God, hath scattered His people, hath with bitter rancor endeavored
to hurt 'Abdu'l-Bahá and hath assailed with the utmost enmity this
servant of the Sacred Threshold. Every dart he seized and hurled to pierce
the breast of this wronged servant, no wound did he neglect to grievously
inflict upon me, no venom did he spare but he poisoned therewith the life
of this hapless one. I swear by the most holy Abhá Beauty and by
the light shining from His Holiness, the Exalted One (may my soul be a sacrifice
for their lowly servants), that because of this iniquity the dwellers in
the Pavilion of the Abhá Kingdom have bewailed, the Celestial Concourse
is lamenting, the Immortal Maids of Heaven in the All Highest Paradise have
raised their plaintive cries and the angelic company sighed and uttered
their moanings. So grievous the deeds of this iniquitous person became that
he struck with his axe at the root of the Blessed Tree, dealt a heavy blow
at the Temple of the Cause of God, deluged with tears of blood the eyes
of the loved ones of the Blessed Beauty, cheered and encouraged the enemies
of the One True God, by his repudiation of the Covenant turned many a seeker
after Truth aside from the Cause of God, revived the blighted hopes of Yahyá's
following, made himself detested, caused the enemies of the Greatest Name
to become audacious and arrogant, put aside the firm and conclusive verses
and sowed the seeds of doubt. Had not the promised aid of the Ancient Beauty
been graciously vouchsafed at every moment to this one, unworthy though
he be, he surely would have destroyed, nay exterminated the Cause of God
and utterly subverted the Divine Edifice. But, praise be the Lord, the triumphant
assistance of the Abhá Kingdom was received, the hosts of the Realm
above hastened to bestow victory. The Cause of God was promoted far and
wide, the call of the True One was noised abroad, ears in all regions were
inclined to the Word of God, His standard was unfurled, the ensigns of Holiness
gloriously waved aloft and the verses celebrating His Divine Unity were
chanted. Now, that the true Faith of God may be shielded and protected,
His Law guarded and preserved and His Cause remain safe and secure, it is
in cumbent upon everyone to hold fast unto the Text of the clear and firmly
established blessed verse, revealed about him. None other transgression
greater than his can be ever imagined. He (Bahá'u'lláh) sayeth,
glorious and holy is His Word:"My foolish loved ones have
regarded him even as my partner, have kindled sedition in the land and they
verily are the mischief-makers." Consider, how foolish are the
people! They that have been in His (Bahá'u'lláh's) Presence
and beheld His Countenance, have nevertheless noised abroad such idle talk,
until, exalted be His explicit words, He said: "Should he
for a moment pass out from under the shadow of the Cause, he surely shall
be brought to naught." Reflect! What stress He layeth upon one
moment's deviation:that is, were he to incline a hair's breadth to the right
or to the left, his deviation would be established and his utter nothingness
made manifest. And now ye are witnessing how the wrath of God hath from
all sides afflicted him and how day by day he is speeding towards destruction.
Ere long will ye behold him and his associates, outwardly and inwardly,
condemned to utter ruin.
What deviation can be greater than breaking the Covenant of God! What deviation
can be greater than interpolating and falsifying the words and verses of
the Sacred Text, even as testified and declared by Mírzá Bádi'u'lláh!
What deviation can be greater than calumniating the Center of the Covenant
Himself! What deviation can be more glaring than spreading broadcast false
and foolish reports touching the Temple of God's Testament! What deviation
can be more grievous than decreeing the death of the Center of the Covenant,
supported by the holy verse : "He that layeth a claim ere
the passing of a thousand years ... ," whilst he (Muhammad-'Alí)
without shame in the days of the Blessed Beauty had advanced such claim
as this and been confuted by Him in the aforementioned manner, the text
of his claim being still extant in his own handwriting and bearing his own
seal. What deviation can be more complete than falsely accusing the loved
ones of God! What deviation can be more evil than causing their imprisonment
and incarceration! What deviation can be more severe than delivering into
the hands of the government the Holy Writings and Epistles, that haply they
(the government) might arise intent upon the death of this wronged one!
What deviation can be more violent than threatening the ruin of the Cause
of God, forging and slanderously falsifying letters and documents so that
this might perturb and alarm the government and lead to the shedding of
the blood of this wronged one,such letters and documents being now
in the possession of the government! What deviation can be more odious than
his iniquity and rebellion! What deviation can be more shameful than dispersing
the gathering of the people of salvation! What deviation can be more infamous
than the vain and feeble interpretations of the people of doubt! What deviation
can be more wicked than joining hands with strangers and with the enemies
of God!
A few months ago, in concert with others, he that hath broken the Covenant,
hath prepared a document teeming with calumny and slander wherein, the Lord
forbid, among many similar slanderous charges, 'Abdu'l-Bahá is deemed
a deadly enemy, the ill-wisher of the Crown. They so perturbed the minds
of the members of the Imperial Government that at last a Committee of Investigation
was sent from the seat of His Majesty's Government which, violating every
rule of justice and equity that befit His Imperial Majesty, nay, with the
most glaring injustice, proceeded with its investigations. The ill-wishers
of the One True God surrounded them on every side and explained and excessively
enlarged upon the text of the document whilst they (the members of the Committee)
in their turn blindly acquiesced. One of their many calumnies was that this
servant had raised aloft a banner in this city, had summoned the people
together under it, had established a new sovereignty for Himself, had erected
upon Mount Carmel a mighty strong hold, had rallied around Him all the peoples
of the land and made them obedient to Him, had caused disruption in the
Faith of Islam, had covenanted with the following of Christ and, God forbid,
had purposed to cause the gravest breach in the mighty power of the Crown.
May the Lord protect us from such atrocious falsehoods!
According to the direct and sacred command of God we are forbidden to utter
slander, are commanded to show forth peace and amity, are exhorted to rectitude
of conduct, straight forwardness and harmony with all the kindreds and peoples
of the world. We must obey and be the well-wishers of the governments of
the land, regard disloyalty unto a just king as disloyalty to God Himself
and wishing evil to the govern ment a transgression of the Cause of God.
With these final and decisive words, how can it be that these imprisoned
ones should indulge in such vain fancies; incarcerated, how could they show
forth such disloyalty! But alas! The Committee of Investigation hath approved
and confirmed these calumnies of my brother and ill-wishers and submitted
them to the presence of His Majesty the Sovereign. Now at this moment a
fierce storm is raging around this prisoner who awaiteth, be it favorable
or unfavorable, the gracious will of His Majesty, may the Lord aid him by
His grace to be just. In whatsoever condition he may be, with absolute calm
and quietness, 'Abdu'l-Bahá is ready for self-sacrifice and is wholly
resigned and submitted to His Will. What transgression can be more abominable,
more odious, more wicked than this!
In like manner, the focal Center of Hate, hath purposed to put 'Abdu'l-Bahá
to death and this is supported by the testimony written by Mírzá
Shua'u'lláh himself and is here enclosed. It is evident and indisputable
that they are privily and with the utmost subtlety engaged in conspiring
against me. The following are his very words written by him in this letter:"I
curse at every moment him that hath kindled this discord, imprecate in these
words 'Lord! have no mercy upon him and I hope ere long God will make manifest
the one that shall have no pity on him, who now weareth an other garb and
about whom I cannot any more explain." Reference he doth make by
these words to the sacred verse that beginneth as follows:"He
that layeth a claim ere the passing of a thousand years...." Reflect!
How intent they are upon the death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá! Ponder in your
hearts upon the phrase"I cannot any more explain"
and realize what schemes they are devising for this purpose. They fear lest,
too fully explained, the letter might fall into alien hands and their schemes
be foiled and frustrated. The phrase is only foretelling good tidings to
come, namely that regarding this all requisite arrangements have been made.
O God, my God! Thou seest this wronged servant of Thine, held fast in the
talons of ferocious lions, of ravening wolves, of bloodthirsty beasts. Graciously
assist me, through my love for Thee, that I may drink deep of the chalice
that brimmeth over with faithfulness to Thee and is filled with Thy bountiful
Grace; so that, fallen upon the dust, I may sink prostrate and senseless
whilst my vesture is dyed crimson with my blood. This is my wish, my heart's
desire, my hope, my pride, my glory. Grant, O Lord my God, and my Refuge,
that in my last hour, my end may even as musk shed its fragrance of glory!
Is there a bounty greater than this? Nay, by Thy Glory! I call Thee to witness
that no day passeth but that I quaff my fill from this cup, so grievous
are the misdeeds wrought by them that have broken the Covenant, kindled
discord, showed their malice, stirred sedition in the land and dishonored
Thee amidst Thy servants. Lord! Shield Thou from these Covenant-breakers
the mighty Stronghold of Thy Faith and protect Thy secret Sanctuary from
the onslaught of the ungodly. Thou art in truth the Mighty, the Powerful,
the Gracious, the Strong.
In short, O ye beloved of the Lord! The Center of Sedition, Mírzá
Muhammad 'Alí, in accordance with the decisive words of God and by
reason of his boundless transgression, hath grievously fallen and been cut
off from the Holy Tree. Verily, we wronged them not, but they have wronged
them selves ! O God, my God! Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils
of self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving kindness
from all rancor, hate and envy, shel ter them in the impregnable stronghold
of The Cause and, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, make them the manifestations
of Thy glorious Signs, illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed
from the Dayspring of Thy Divine Unity, gladden their hearts with the verses
revealed from Thy Holy Kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thy all-swaying
power that cometh from Thy Realm of Glory. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the
Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious!
0 ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh that this wronged
and broken-winged bird will have taken its flight unto the celestial Concourse,
when it will have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame
will have been either lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon
the Afnán, that are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have branched
from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands, (pillars) of the Cause of God, (the
glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved ones, one
and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord,
to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His
Faith. It behooveth them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose.
They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime and travel
throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end
they must raise in every land the triumphal cry "O Thou the Glory
of Glories!" (Ya Bahá'il'Abhá), must achieve renown
in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every
meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that
the light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world,
that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather
under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet savors of holiness may
be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine
spirit and souls be made heavenly.
In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance of the nations
and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance for
it is the head corner stone of the foundation itself. This wronged servant
has spent his days and nights in promoting the Cause and urging the peoples
to service. He rested not a moment, till the fame of the Cause of God was
noised abroad in the world and the celestial strains from the Abhá
Kingdom roused the East and the West. The beloved of God must also follow
the same example. This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement
of servitude to the Threshold of Bahá!
The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things, forsook
all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion and
with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling the
peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they made the
world another world, illumined the surface of the earth and even to their
last hour proved self-sacrificing in the path way of that Beloved One of
God. Finally in various lands they suffered glorious martyrdom. Let them
that are men of action follow in their footsteps!
0 my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent
upon the Aghsán (Branches), the Afnán (Twigs) of the
Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved
ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendithe youthful
branch branched from the two hallowed and sacred Lote-Trees and the fruit
grown from the union of the two offshoots of the Tree of Holiness,
as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of
God, he unto whom all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands
of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of
the words of God and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal
descendents.
The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of God as well
as the Universal House of Justice, to be universally elected and established,
are both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under
the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One (may
my life be offered up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God.
Whoso obeyeth him not, neither obeyeth them hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth
against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso opposeth him
hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God; whoso
disputeth with him hath disputed with God; whoso denieth him hath denied
God; whoso disbelieveth in him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth,
separateth himself and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated
himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation,
the vengeance of God rest upon him! The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable
and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God.
It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsán,
the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience,
submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God,
to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed
the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His word
and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition. Beware, beware,
lest the days after the ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) be repeated
when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty and rebellious and with Divine
Unity for his excuse deprived himself and perturbed and poisoned others.
No doubt every vainglorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will
not openly declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would
he seize upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate
the gathering of the people of Bahá. My object is to show that the
Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find
anyone be ginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause
of God cast him out from the congregation of the people of Bahá and
in no wise accept any excuse from him. How often hath grievous error been
disguised in the garb of truth, that it might sow the seeds of doubt in
the heart of men!
O ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause
of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor,
that differences may not arise after his passing. He that is appointed must
manifest in himself detachment from all worldly things, must be the essence
of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning.
Thus, should the first born of the guardian of the Cause of God not manifest
in himself the truth of the words:"The child is the secret
essence of its sire," that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual
within him (the guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not
be matched with a goodly character, then must he, (the guardian of the Cause
of God) choose another branch to succeed him.
The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons
that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work
of the guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine must be
carried either unanimously or by majority from the company of the Hands
of the Cause of God and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote,
must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the
Cause of God hath chosen as his successor This assent must be given in such
wise as the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished (i.e.,
secret ballot).
0 friends! The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed
by the guardian of the Cause of God. All must be under his shadow and obey
his command. Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the
Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance
will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of
God.
The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine
Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the
character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified
and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by
their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.
This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the
guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually urge them to strive and
endeavor to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of God,
and to guide all the peoples of the world, for it is the light of Divine
Guidance that causeth all the universe to be illumined. To disregard, though
it be for a moment, this absolute command which is binding upon everyone,
is in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as the
Abhá Paradise, that the surface of the earth may become heavenly,
that contention and conflict amidst peoples, kindreds, nations and governments
may disappear, that all the dwellers on earth may become one people and
one race, that the world may become even as one home. Should differences
arise they shall be amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal,
that shall include members from all the governments and peoples of the world.
0 ye beloved of the Lord! In this sacred Dispensation conflict and contention
are in no wise permitted. Every aggressor deprives himself of God's grace.
It is incumbent upon everyone to show the utmost love, rectitude of conduct,
straight forwardness and sincere kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds
of the world, be they friends or strangers. So intense must be the spirit
of love and loving kindness, that the stranger may find himself a friend,
the enemy a true brother, no difference whatsoever existing between them.
For universality is of God and all limitations earthly. Thus man must strive
that his reality may manifest virtues and perfections, the light whereof
may shine upon everyone. The light of the sun shineth upon all the world
and the merciful showers of Divine Providence fall upon all peoples. The
vivifying breeze reviveth every living creature and all beings endued with
life obtain their share and portion at His heavenly board. In like manner,
the affections and loving kindness of the servants of the One True God must
be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind. Regarding this,
restrictions and limitations are in no wise permitted.
Wherefore, O my loving friends! Consort with all the peoples, kindreds and
religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness, uprightness, faithfulness,
kindliness, good-will and friendliness, that all the world of being may
be filled with the holy ecstasy of the grace of Bahá, that ignorance,
enmity, hate and rancor may vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement
amidst the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light of
Unity. Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you show your fidelity
unto them, should they be unjust toward you show justice towards them, should
they keep aloof from you attract them to yourself, should they show their
enmity be friendly towards them, should they poison your lives, sweeten
their souls, should they inflict a wound upon you, be a salve to their sores.
Such are the attributes of the sincere! Such are the attributes of the truthful.
And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the
source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected by universal
suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be manifestations
of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and understanding, must be
steadfast in God's faith and the well-wishers all mankind. By this House
is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all countries a secondary
House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice
must elect the members of the Universal one. Unto this body all things must
be referred. It enacteth all ordinances and regulations that are not to
be found in the explicit Holy Text. By this body all the difficult problems
are to be resolved and the guardian of the Cause of God is its sacred head
and the distinguished member for life of that body. Should he not attend
in person its deliberations, he must appoint one to represent him. Should
any of the members commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the guardian
of the Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him, whereupon
the people must elect another one in his stead. This House of Justice enacteth
the laws and the government enforceth them. The legislative body must reinforce
the executive, the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so
that through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation
of fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions
of the world may become even as Paradise itself.
0 Lord, my God! Assist Thy loved ones to be firm in Thy Faith, to walk in
Thy ways, to be steadfast in Thy Cause. Give them Thy grace to withstand
the onslaught of self and passion, to follow the light of Divine Guidance.
Thou art the Powerful, the Gracious, the Self-Subsisting, the Bestower,
the Compassionate, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.
0 friends of 'Abdu'l-Bahá! The Lord, as a sign of His infinite bounties,
hath graciously favored His servants by providing for a fixed money offering
(Huquq), to be dutifully presented unto Him, though He, the True One and
His servants have been at all times independent of all created things, and
God verily is the All-Possessing, exalted above the need of any gift from
His Creatures. This fixed money offering, however, causeth the people to
become firm and steadfast and draweth Divine increase upon them. It is to
be offered through the guardian of the Cause of God, that it may be expended
for the diffusion of the Fragrances of God and the exaltation of His word,
for benevolent pursuits and for the common weal.
0 ye beloved of the Lord! It is incumbent upon you to be submissive to all
monarchs that are just and to show your fidelity to every righteous king.
Serve ye the sovereigns of the world with utmost truthfulness and loyalty.
Show obedience unto them and be their well-wishers. Without their leave
and permission do not meddle with political affairs, for disloyalty to the
just sovereign is disloyalty to God himself.
This is my counsel and the commandment of God unto you. Well is it with
them that act accordingly.
Note: (This written paper hath for a long time been preserved underground,
damp having affected it. When brought forth to the light it was observed
that certain parts of it were injured by the damp, and the Holy Land being
sorely agitated it was left untouched.)
He Is God
Yet now Thou seest them, O Lord, my God! with Thine eye that sleepeth not,
how that they have broken Thy Covenant and turned their backs thereon, how
with hate and rebelliousness they have erred from Thy Testament and have
arisen intent upon malice.
Adversities have waxed still more severe as they rose with unbearable cruelty
to overpower and crush me, as they scattered far and wide their scrolls
of doubt and in utter falsehood hurled their calumnies upon me. Not content
with this, their chief, O my God, hath dared to interpolate Thy Book, to
fraudulently alter Thy decisive Holy Text and falsify that which hath been
revealed by Thy All-Glorious Pen. He did also maliciously insert that which
Thou didst reveal for the one that hath wrought the most glaring cruelty
upon Thee, disbelieved in Thee and denied Thy wondrous Signs, into what
Thou didst reveal for this servant of Thine that hath been wronged in this
world. All this he did that he might beguile the souls of men and breathe
his evil whis perings into the hearts of Thy devoted ones. Thereunto did
their second chief testify, confessing it in his own handwriting, setting
thereupon his seal and spreading it throughout all regions. O my God! Could
there be a more grievous in justice than this? And still they rested not,
but further strove with stubbornness, falsehood and slander, with scorn
and calumny to stir up sedition in the midst of the government of this land
and elsewhere, causing them to deem me a sower of sedition and filling the
minds with things that the ear abhorreth to hear. The government was thus
alarmed, fear fell upon the sovereign, and the suspicion of the nobility
was aroused. Minds were troubled, affairs were upset, souls were perturbed,
the fire of anguish and sorrow was kindled within the breasts, the Holy
Leaves (of the Household) were convulsed and shaken, their eyes rained with
tears, their sighs and lamentations were raised and their hearts burned
within them as they bewailed this wronged servant of Thine, fallen a victim
into the hands of these, his kindred, nay, his very enemies!
Lord! Thou seest all things weeping me and my kindred rejoicing in my woes.
By Thy Glory, O my God! Even amongst mine enemies, some have lamented my
troubles and my distress, and of the envious ones a number have shed tears
because of my cares, my exile and my afflictions. They did this because
they found naught in me but affection and care and witnessed naught but
kindliness and mercy. As they saw me swept into the flood of tribulation
and adversity and exposed even as a target to the arrows of fate, their
hearts were moved with compassion, tears came to their eyes and they testified
declaring:"The Lord is our witness; naught have we seen from
Him but faithfulness, generosity and extreme compassion." The Covenant-breakers,
foreboders of evil, however, waxed fiercer in their rancor, rejoiced as
I fell a victim to the most grievous ordeal, be stirred themselves against
me and made merry over the heartrending happenings around me.
I call upon Thee, O Lord my God! with my tongue and with all my heart, not
to requite them for their cruelty and their wrong-doings, their craft and
their mischief, for they are foolish and ignoble and know not what they
do. They discern not good from evil, neither do they distinguish right from
wrong, nor justice from injustice. They follow their own desires and walk
in the footsteps of the most imperfect and foolish amongst them. O my Lord!
Have mercy upon them, shield them from all afflictions in these troubled
times and grant that all trials and hardships may be the lot of this Thy
servant that hath fallen into this darksome pit. Single me out for every
woe and make me a sacrifice for all Thy loved ones. O Lord, Most High! May
my soul, my life, my being, my spirit, my all be offered up for them. O
God, my God! Lowly, suppliant and fallen upon my face, I beseech Thee with
all the ardor of my invocation to pardon whosoever hath hurt me, forgive
him that hath conspired against me and offended me, and wash away the misdeeds
of them that have wrought injustice upon me. Vouchsafe unto them Thy goodly
gifts, give them joy, relieve them from sorrow, grant them peace and prosperity,
give them Thy bliss and pour upon them Thy bounty.
Thou art the Powerful, the Gracious, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting!
O dearly beloved friends! I am now in very great danger and the hope of
even an hour's life is lost to me. I am thus constrained to write these
lines for the protection of the Cause of God, the preservation of His Law,
the safeguarding of His Word and the safety of His Teachings. By the Ancient
Beauty! This wronged one hath in no wise borne nor doth he bear a grudge
against any one; towards none doth he entertain any ill-feeling and uttereth
no word save for the good of the world. My supreme obligation, however,
of necessity, prompteth me to guard and preserve the Cause of God. Thus,
with the greatest regret, I counsel you saying:"Guard ye the
Cause of God, protect His law and have the utmost fear of discord. This
is the foundation of the belief of the people of Bahá (may my life
be offered up for them). His Holiness, the Exalted One, (the Báb)
is the Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God and the Forerunner
of the Ancient Beauty. His Holiness the Abhá Beauty (may my life
be a sacrifice for His steadfast friends) is The Supreme Manifestation of
God and The Dayspring of His Most Divine Essence. All others are servants
unto Him and do his bidding." Unto the Most Holy Book every one
must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred
to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously
or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of
God himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord,
hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant. By
this House is meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be elected
from all countries, that is from those parts in the East and West where
the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary elections
in Western countries such as those of England.
It is incumbent upon these members (of the Universal House of Justice) to
gather in a certain place and deliberate upon all problems which have caused
difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly
recorded in the Book. Whatsoever they decide has the same effect as the
Text itself. And inasmuch as this House of Justice hath power to enact laws
that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions,
so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of
Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years
hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having
altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the
exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law
formeth no part of the Divine Explicit Text. The House of Justice is both
the Initiator and the Abrogator of its own laws.
And now, one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause
of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers, for they will
utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account
all efforts exerted in the past. O friends! It behooveth you to call to
mind with tenderness the trials of His Holiness, the Exalted One, and show
your fidelity to the Ever-Blest Beauty. The utmost endeavor must be exerted
lest all these woes, trials and afflictions, all this pure and sacred blood
that hath been shed so profusely in the Path of God, may prove to be in
vain. Ye know well what the hands of the Center of Sedition, Mírzá
Muhammad 'Alí, and his associates have wrought. Among his doings,
one of them is the corruption of the Sacred Text whereof ye are all aware,
the Lord be praised, and know that it is evident, proven and confirmed by
the testimony of his brother, Mírzá Bádi'u'lláh,
whose confession is written in his own handwriting, beareth his seal, is
printed and spread abroad. This is but one of his misdeeds. Can a transgression
be imagined more glaring than this, the interpolation of the Holy Text?
Nay, by the righteous ness of the Lord! His transgressions are writ and
recorded in a leaflet by itself. Please God, ye will peruse it.
In short, according to the explicit Divine Text the least transgression
shall make of this man a fallen creature, and what transgression is more
grievous than attempting to destroy the Divine Edifice, breaking the Covenant,
erring from the Testament, falsifying the Holy Text, sowing the deeds of
doubt, calumniating 'Abdu'l-Bahá, advancing claims for which God
hath sent down no warrant, kindling mischief and striving to shed the very
blood of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and many other things whereof ye are all aware!
It is thus evident that should this man succeed in bringing disruption into
the Cause of God, he will utterly destroy and exterminate it. Beware lest
ye approach this man, for to approach him is worse than approaching fire!
Gracious God! After Mírzá Bádi'u'lláh had declared
in his own handwriting that this man (Muhammad 'Alí) had broken the
Covenant and had proclaimed his falsification of the Holy Text, he realized
that to return to the True Faith and pay allegiance to the Covenant and
Testament would in no wise promote his selfish desires. He thus repented
and regretted the thing he had done and attempted privily gather in his
printed confessions, plotted darkly with the Center of Sedition against
me and informed him daily of all the happenings within my household. He
has even taken a leading part in the mischievous deeds that have of late
been committed. Praise be to God affairs recovered their former stability
and the loved ones obtained partial peace. But ever since the day he entered
again into our midst, he began afresh to sow the seeds of sore sedition.
Some of his machinations and intrigues will be recorded in a separate leaflet.
My purpose is, however, to show that it is incumbent upon the friends that
are fast and firm in the Covenant and Testament to be ever wakeful lest
after this wronged one is gone this alert and active worker of mischief
may cause disruption, privily sow the seeds of doubt and sedition and utterly
root out the Cause of God. A thousand times shun his company. Take heed
and be on your guard. Watch and examine, should anyone, openly or privily,
have the least connection with him, cast him out from your midst, for he
will surely cause disruption and mischief.
O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the Cause
of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls such as these cause
the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary
results.
0 God, my God! I call Thee, Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers, Thy Saints
and Thy Holy Ones, to witness that I have declared conclusively Thy Proofs
unto Thy loved ones and set forth clearly all things unto them, that they
may watch over Thy Faith, guard Thy Straight Path and protect Thy Resplendent
Law. Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
He Is the Witness, the All Sufficing
Thou seest, O my God! how my long-suffering, my forbearance and silence
have increased their cruelty, their arrogance and their pride. By Thy Glory,
O Beloved One! They have misbelieved in Thee and rebelled against Thee in
such wise that they left me not a moment of rest and quiet, that I might
arise as it is meet and seemly, to exalt Thy Word amidst mankind, and might
serve at Thy Threshold of Holiness with a heart that overfloweth with the
joy of the dwell ers of the Abha Kingdom.
Lord! My cup of woe runneth over, and from all sides blows are fiercely
raging upon me. The darts of affliction have compassed me round and the
arrows of distress have rained upon me. Thus tribulation overwhelmed me
and my strength, because of the onslaught of the foemen, became weakness
within me, while I stood alone and forsaken in the midst of my woes. Lord!
Have mercy upon me, lift me up unto Thyself and make me to drink from the
Chalice of Martyrdom, for the wide world with all its vastness can no longer
contain me.
Thou art, verily, the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Gracious, the All-Bountiful!
O ye the true, the sincere, the faithful friends of this wronged one! Everyone
knoweth and believeth what calamities and afflictions have befallen this
wronged one, this prisoner, at the hands of those who have broken the Covenant
at the time when, after the setting of the Day-Star of the world, his heart
was consumed with the flame of His bereavement.
When, in all parts of the earth, the enemies of God profiting by the passing
of the Sun of Truth, suddenly and with all their might launched their attack;
at such a time and in the midst of so great a calamity, the Covenant-breakers
arose with the utmost cruelty, intent upon harm and the stirring up of the
spirit of enmity. At every moment a misdeed they did commit and bestirred
themselves to sow the seeds of grievous sedition, and to ruin the edifice
of the Covenant. But this wronged one, this prisoner, did his utmost to
hide and veil their doings, that haply they might regret and repent. His
long-suffering and forbearance of these evil deeds, however, made the rebellious
ones still more arrogant and daring; until, through leaflets written with
their own hands, they sowed the seeds of doubt, printing these leaflets
and scattering them broadcast throughout the world, believing that such
foolish doings would bring to naught the Covenant and the Testament.
Thereupon the loved ones of the Lord arose, inspired with the greatest confidence
and constancy and aided by the power of the Kingdom, by Divine Strength,
by heavenly Grace, by the unfailing help and Celestial Bounty, they with
stood the enemies of the Covenant in well-nigh three score and ten treatises
and supported by conclusive proof, unmistakable evidences and clear texts
from the Holy Writ, they refuted their scrolls of doubt and mischief-kindling
leaflets. The Center of Sedition was thus confounded in his craftiness,
afflicted by the wrath of God, sunk into a degradation and infamy that shall
be lasting until the Day of Doom. Base and wretched is the plight of the
people of evil deeds, they that are in grievous loss!
And as they lost their cause, grew hopeless in their efforts against the
loved ones of God, saw the Standard of His Testament waving throughout all
regions and witnessed the power of the Covenant of the Merciful One, the
flame of envy so blazed within them as to be beyond recounting. With the
utmost vigor, exertion, rancor and enmity, they followed another path, walked
in another way, devised an other plan: that of kindling the flame of sedition
in the heart of the very government itself, and thus caused this wronged
one, this prisoner to appear as a mover of strife, inimical to the government
and a hater and opponent of the crown. Perchance 'Abdu'l-Bahá may
be put to death and his name be made to perish whereby an arena may be opened
unto the enemies of the Covenant wherein they may advance and spur on their
charger, inflict a grievous loss upon everyone and subvert the very foundations
of the edifice of the Cause of God. For so grievous is the conduct and behavior
of this false people that they are become even as an axe striking at the
very root of the Blessed Tree. Should they be suffered to continue they
would, in but a few days' time, exterminate the Cause of God, His word,
and themselves.
Hence, the beloved of the Lord must entirely shun them, avoid them, foil
their machinations and evil whisperings, guard the Law of God and His religion,
engage one and all in diffusing widely the sweet savors of God and to the
best of their endeavor proclaim His Teachings.
Whosoever and whatsoever meeting becometh a hindrance to the diffusion of
the Light of Faith, let the loved ones give them counsel and say:"Of
all the gifts of God the greatest is the gift of Teaching. It draweth unto
us the Grace of God and is our first obligation. Of such a gift how can
we deprive ourselves? Nay, our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rest,
we offer them all as a sacrifice for the Abha Beauty and teach the Cause
of God." Caution and prudence, however, must be observed even as
recorded in the Book. The veil must in no wise be suddenly rent asunder.
The Glory of Glories rest upon you.
O ye the faithful loved ones of 'Abdu'l-Bahá! It is incumbent upon
you to take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that hath branched
from and the fruit given forth by the two hallowed and Divine Lote-Trees,
that no dust of despondency and sorrow may stain his radiant nature, that
day by day he may wax greater in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and
may grow to become even as a fruitful tree.
For he is, after 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the guardian of the Cause of God,
the Afnán, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause and the beloved of the
Lord must obey him and turn unto him. He that obeyeth him not, hath not
obeyed God; he that turneth away from him, hath turned away from God and
he that denieth him, hath denied the True One. Beware lest anyone falsely
interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the Covenant
after the Day of Ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) advance a pretext,
raise the standard of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of false
interpretation. To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion
or express his particular convictions. All must seek guidance and turn unto
the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto
whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.
The Glory of Glories rest upon you!