Chapter 1

Selections From the Writings of the Bab

by the Bab

Edition 1, (June 2006)

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CONTENTS

Baha'i Terms of Use References to the Qur'an 1: Tablets And Addresses A Tablet Addressed To 'Him Who Will Be Made Manifest' A Second Tablet Addressed To 'Him Who Will Be Made Manifest' Tablet To The First Letter Of The Living Extracts From An Epistle To Muhammad Shah Extracts From Another Epistle To Muhammad Shah Extracts From A Further Epistle To Muhammad Shah Extracts From A Tablet Containing Words Addressed To The Sherif Of Mecca Address To A Muslim Divine Address To Sulayman, One Of The Muslim Divines In The Land Of Masqat 2: Excerpts From The Qayyumu'l-Asma "All praise be to God Who hath, through the ..." "O King of Islam! Aid thou, with the truth, after having ..." "Be thou content with the commandment of God, the ..." "Verily We made the revelation of verses to be a testimony ..." "As to those who deny Him Who is the Sublime Gate of ..." "Unto every people We have sent down the Book in ..." "Fear ye God and breathe not a word concerning His ..." "Do men imagine that We are far distant from the people ..." "Do not say, 'How can He speak of God while in truth ..." "Glorified is He besides Whom there is none other God. ..." "O ye servants of God! Verily, be not grieved if a thing ye ..." "O Peoples of the East and the West! Be ye fearful of God ..." "O Qurratu'l-'Ayn! We have, verily, dilated Thine ..." "The angels and the spirits, arrayed rank upon rank, ..." "Are ye wickedly scheming, according to your selfish ..." "O ye peoples of the earth! During the time of My ..." "O ye kinsmen of the Most Great Remembrance! This ..." "O Qurratu'l-'Ayn! Stretch not Thy hands wide open ..." "O People of Persia! Are ye not satisfied with this glorious ..." "O People of the earth! By the righteousness of the One ..." "O Thou the Supreme Word of God! Fear not, nor be ..." "O Concourse of Shi'ihs! Fear ye God and Our Cause ..." "Recite ye as much as convenient from this Qur'an both ..." "Issue forth from your cities, O peoples of the West and ..." "O ye peoples of the earth! Hearken unto My call, ringing ..." "Be Thou patient, O Qurratu'l-'Ayn, for God hath indeed ..." "By My glory! I will make the infidels to taste, with the ..." "The Lord hath, in truth, inspired Me: Verily, verily, I am ..." "O Thou Remnant of God! I have sacrificed myself wholly ..." "O Peoples of the earth! By the righteousness of God, this ..." "Verily such as ridicule the wondrous, divine Verses ..." "O People of the Qur'an! Ye are as nothing unless ye ..." "O Peoples of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of ..." "Whenever the faithful hear the verses of this Book ..." "O Spirit of God! Call Thou to mind the bounty which ..." "O People of the earth! To attain the ultimate retreat in ..." "God, besides Whom there is none other true God, saith: ..." "The people, during the absence of the Bab, re-enacted ..." "Doth it seem strange to the people that We should have ..." "O Peoples of the earth! Verily the true God calleth ..." "O ye concourse of the believers! Utter not words of ..." "O Thou cherished Fruit of the heart! Give ear to the ..." "Should it be Our wish, it is in Our power to compel, ..." "O ye peoples of the earth! By the righteousness of God, ..." "O Hour of the Dawn! Ere the resplendent glory of the ..." "O Concourse of the faithful! Verily the object of each ..." "God had, in truth, proposed Our Mission unto the ..." "Hearken unto the Voice of Thy Lord calling from ..." "This Book which We have sent down is indeed abounding ..." "This Remembrance is indeed the glorious Remnant of ..." "This Religion is indeed, in the sight of God, the essence ..." "O My servants! This is God's appointed Day which the ..." "Indeed We conversed with Moses by the leave of God ..." "O Qurratu'l-'Ayn! I recognize in Thee none other ..." "God, of a truth, revealed unto Me in the sacred house of ..." "O Qurratu'l-'Ayn! Say: Verily I am the One Who is ..." "I Am the Mystic Fane which the Hand of Omnipotence ..." "As a token of pure justice, We have indeed sent tidings ..." 3: Excerpts From The Persian Bayan "It is better to guide one soul than to possess all ..." "Worship thou God in such wise that if thy worship lead ..." "The Day of Resurrection is a day on which the sun riseth ..." "There is no paradise, in the estimation of the believers in ..." "God loveth those who are pure. Naught in the Bayan and ..." "Likewise consider the manifestation of the Point of the ..." "There is no doubt that the Almighty hath sent down ..." "Since that Day is a great Day it would be sorely trying ..." "In the manifestation of the Apostle of God all were eagerly ..." "At the time of the manifestation of Him Whom God ..." "Ye perform your works for God from the beginning of ..." "God hath, at all times and under all conditions, been ..." "How veiled are ye, O My creatures, ... who, without ..." "How vast the number of people who are well versed in ..." "No created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it ..." "Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since ..." "Better is it for a person to write down but one of His ..." "O People of the Bayan! Be on your guard; for on the ..." "Since all men have issued forth from the shadow of the ..." "O People of the Bayan! If ye believe in Him Whom God ..." "The reason why privacy hath been enjoined in moments ..." "It is seemly that the servant should, after each prayer, ..." "As this physical frame is the throne of the inner temple, ..." "At the time of the appearance of Him Whom God shall ..." "Everyone is eagerly awaiting His appearance, yet since ..." "The acts of Him Whom God shall make manifest are like ..." "Know thou that in the Bayan purification is regarded as ..." "If at the time of the appearance of Him Whom God will ..." "It is not permissible to ask questions from Him Whom ..." "The Bayan shall constitute God's unerring balance till the ..." "The One true God may be compared unto the sun and ..." "I swear by the most holy Essence of God--exalted and ..." "In this Revelation the Lord of the universe hath deigned ..." "Thou beholdest how vast is the number of people who ..." "The substance of this chapter is this, that what is intended ..." "The evidence set forth by God can never be compared ..." "Praise be to God that He hath enabled us to become ..." "In the Name of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Holy. ..." "The revelation of the Divine Reality hath everlastingly ..." 4: Excerpts From Dala'il-i-sab'ih (The Seven Proofs) "Thou hast asked concerning the fundamentals ..." "Gracious God! Within the domains of Islam there are ..." "Ponder likewise the Dispensation of the Apostle of God ..." "Consider the manifold favours vouchsafed by the ..." "Let Me set forth some rational arguments for thee. If ..." "The recognition of Him Who is the Bearer of divine ..." "The evidences which the people demanded from the ..." "Rid thou thyself of all attachments to aught except God, ..." "It is recorded in a tradition that of the entire concourse of ..." "Thy letter hath been perused. Were the truth of this ..." 5: Excerpts From The Kitab-i-asma (The Book of Names) "God is sanctified from His servants and no direct relationship ..." "Should a person lay claim to a cause and produce his ..." "O Ye who are invested with the Bayan! Be ye watchful ..." "Consider how at the time of the appearance of every ..." "Take heed to carefully consider the words of every soul, ..." "On the Day of Resurrection when He Whom God will ..." "O Ye unto whom the Bayan is given! Be ye vigilant lest ..." "Verily God hath caused the people of the Bayan to be ..." "Since thou hast faithfully obeyed the true religion of God ..." "As to those who have debarred themselves from the ..." "O Ye who are invested with the Bayan! Ye shall be put ..." "Say, He Whom God shall make manifest will surely ..." "Ponder upon the people unto whom the Gospel was ..." "Say, ye will be unable to recognize the One True God or ..." "Verily, on the First Day We flung open the gates of ..." "Say, by reason of your remembering Him Whom God ..." "The divine Revelation associated with the advent of Him ..." "Say, verily God hath caused all created things to enter ..." "Say, God shall of a truth cause your hearts to be given to ..." "How great the number of people who deck themselves ..." 6: Excerpts From Various Writings "Say, God is the Lord and all are worshippers unto ..." "God testifieth that there is none other God but Him. His ..." "From the beginning that hath no beginning all men have ..." "Consecrate Thou, O my God, the whole of this Tree ..." "He--glorified be His mention--resembleth the sun. ..." "The glory of Him Whom God shall make manifest is ..." "All men have proceeded from God and unto Him shall ..." "Verily I am God, no God is there but Me, and aught ..." "Say: Praise be to God Who graciously enableth whomsoever ..." "Glorified is He to Whom pertaineth the dominion of ..." "O Thou who art the chosen one among women! ..." "God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, the ..." "When the Day-Star of Baha will shine resplendent above ..." "Glory be unto Him Who is the Lord of all that are in ..." "It behooveth you to await the Day of the appearance of ..." 7: Prayers And Meditations "Hallowed be the Lord in Whose hand is the ..." "Send down Thy blessings, O my God, upon the Tree of ..." "Immeasurably glorified and exalted art Thou. How ..." "Verily I am Thy servant, O my God, and Thy poor ..." "Magnified be Thy Name, O God. Thine in truth are the ..." "Lauded be Thy Name, O God. Thou art in truth our ..." "Glory be unto Thee, O God. How can I make mention ..." "Praise be unto Thee, O Lord. Forgive us our sins, have ..." "O God our Lord! Protect us through Thy grace from ..." "Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! Nothing whatsoever ..." "O Lord! Render victorious Thy forbearing servants in ..." "Glorified be Thy Name, O Lord! In whom shall I ..." "Thou art aware, O My God, that since the day Thou ..." "I am aware, O Lord, that my trespasses have covered my ..." "I Beg Thee to forgive me, O my Lord, for every mention ..." "How can I praise Thee, O Lord, for the evidences of Thy ..." "Glory be to Thee, O God! Thou art the God Who hath ..." "I Implore Thee by the splendour of the light of Thy ..." "Do Thou ordain for me, O Lord, every good thing Thou ..." "How numerous the souls raised to life who were exposed ..." "Glory be unto Thee, O Lord! Although Thou mayest ..." "O Lord! Enable all the peoples of the earth to gain ..." "Vouchsafe unto me, O my God, the full measure of ..." "Glory be unto Thee, O Lord, Thou Who hast brought ..." "O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge and toward all ..." "O Lord! Thou art the Remover of every anguish and the ..." "Throughout eternity Thou hast been, O my Lord, ..." "The glory of glories and the most resplendent light rest ..." "All praise be unto God Who was Ever-Existent ere ..." "Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou ..." "Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! I beg Thee to ..." "Immeasurably exalted art Thou, O my God, above the ..." "All majesty and glory, O my God, and all dominion and ..." "O My God! There is no one but Thee to allay the anguish ..." "O My God! I have failed to know Thee as is worthy of ..." "Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord! Both the world ..." "O My God, my Lord and my Master! I have detached ..." "I Adjure Thee by Thy might, O my God! Let no harm ..." "I Beg Thy forgiveness, O my God, and implore pardon ..." "Lauded be Thy Name, O Lord our God! Thou art in ..." "Through Thy revelation, O my God, Thou hast enabled ..." "Say: O my God! O Thou Who art the Maker of the ..." "Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou art in truth ..." "Praised and glorified art Thou, O God! Grant that the ..." "Thou knowest full well, O my God, that tribulations ..." "Praise be to Thee, O Lord, my Best Beloved! Make me ..." "O My God, O my Lord, O my Master! I beg Thee to ..." "Thou seest, O my Lord, my dwelling-place in the heart ..." "Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised ..."

REFERENCES TO THE QUR'AN

In footnotes referring to the Qur'an the surihs have been numbered according to the original, whereas the verse numbers are those in Rodwell's translation which differ sometimes from those of the Arabic.

1: TABLETS AND ADDRESSES

A Tablet Addressed To 'Him Who Will Be Made Manifest'

This is an epistle from this lowly servant to the All-Glorious Lord--He Who hath been aforetime and will be hereafter made manifest. Verily He is the Most Manifest, the Almighty.

In the name of the Sovereign Lord, the Lord of Power.

Glorified is He before Whom all the dwellers of earth and heaven bow down in adoration and unto Whom all men turn in supplication. He is the One Who holdeth in His grasp the mighty kingdom of all created things and unto Him shall all return. He is the One Who revealeth whatsoever He willeth and by His injunction 'Be Thou' all things have come into being.

This is an epistle from the letter '_Th_a'(1) unto Him Who will be made manifest through the power of Truth--He Who is the All-Glorious, the Best Beloved--to affirm that all created things as well as myself bear witness for all time that there is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the Self-Subsisting; that Thou art God, there is no God besides Thee and that all men shall be raised up to life through Thee.

Lauded and glorified be Thy name, O Lord, my God!

From all eternity I have indeed recognized Thee and unto all eternity will ever do so through Thine Own Self and not through any one else besides Thee. Verily Thou art the Source of all knowledge, the Omniscient. From everlasting I have besought and unto everlasting will beseech forgiveness for my limited understanding of Thee, aware as I am that there is no God but Thee, the All-Glorious, the Almighty.

I beg of Thee, O my Best Beloved, to pardon me and those who earnestly seek to promote Thy Cause; Thou art indeed the One Who forgiveth the sins of all mankind. And in this second year of my Revelation--a Revelation which took place at Thy behest--I bear witness that Thou art the Most Manifest, the Omnipotent, the Ever-Abiding; that of all things that exist on earth and in the heavens nothing whatsoever can frustrate Thy purpose and that Thou art the Knower of all things and the Lord of might and majesty.

Verily, we have believed in Thee and in Thy signs ere the dawn of Thy Manifestation, and in Thee are we all well-assured. Verily, we have believed in Thee and in Thy signs after the fulfilment of Thy Manifestation, and in Thee do we all believe. Verily, we have believed in Thee and in Thy signs at the hour of Thy Manifestation and bear witness that through Thine injunction 'Be Thou' all things have been created.

Every Manifestation is but a revelation of Thine Own Self, with each of Whom we have truly appeared and we bow down in adoration before Thee. Thou hast been, O my Best Beloved, and shalt ever be my witness throughout bygone times and in the days to come. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Ever-Faithful, the Omnipotent.

I have testified to Thy oneness through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that, verily, Thou art the All-Glorious, the Best Beloved. I have attained the recognition of Thee through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that Thou art in truth the Almighty, the All-Praised. I have glorified Thy Name through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that Thou art indeed the Lord of power, He Who is the Most Manifest. I have exalted Thy holiness through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that in truth Thou art the Most Sanctified, the Most Holy. I have praised Thy sanctity through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that Thou art indeed the Indescribable, the Inaccessible, the Immeasurably Glorified. I have extolled Thine overpowering majesty through Thine Own Self before the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, bearing witness that, verily, Thou and Thou alone art the Lord of might, the Eternal One, the Ancient of Days.

Hallowed and glorified art Thou; there is none other God but Thee and in truth unto Thee do we all return.

As to those who have put the kindred of 'Ali to death, ere long they shall realize to what depths of perdition they have descended.

A Second Tablet Addressed To 'Him Who Will Be Made Manifest'

May the glances of Him Whom God shall make manifest illumine this letter at the primary school.(2)

He is the Most Glorious.

He is God, no God is there but Him, the Almighty, the Best Beloved. All that are in the heavens and on the earth and whatever lieth between them are His. Verily He is the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

This is a letter from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, unto God, the Almighty, the Best Beloved, to affirm that the Bayan and such as bear allegiance to it are but a present from me unto Thee and to express my undoubting faith that there is no God but Thee, that the kingdoms of Creation and Revelation are Thine, that no one can attain anything save by Thy power and that He Whom Thou hast raised up is but Thy servant and Thy Testimony. I, indeed, beg to address Him Whom God shall make manifest, by Thy leave in these words: 'Shouldst Thou dismiss the entire company of the followers of the Bayan in the Day of the Latter Resurrection by a mere sign of Thy finger even while still a suckling babe, Thou wouldst indeed be praised in Thy indication. And though no doubt is there about it, do Thou grant a respite of nineteen years as a token of Thy favour so that those who have embraced this Cause may be graciously rewarded by Thee. Thou art verily the Lord of grace abounding. Thou dost indeed suffice every created thing and causest it to be independent of all things, while nothing in the heavens or on the earth or that which lieth between them can ever suffice Thee.'

Verily Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the All-Knowing; Thou art indeed potent over all things.

Tablet To The First Letter Of The Living

This is that which We have revealed for the First Believer in Him Whom God shall make manifest, that it may serve as an admonition from Our presence unto all mankind.

In the Name of the Almighty, the Best Beloved.

Lauded and glorified is He Who is the sovereign Lord of the kingdoms of heaven and earth and whatever is between them. Say, verily unto Him shall all return, and He is the One Who guideth at His Own behest whomsoever He pleaseth. Say, all men beseech His blessings and He is supreme over all created things. He is indeed the All-Glorious, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved.

This is an epistle from the letter '_Th_a' unto him who is the First Believer. Bear thou witness that verily He is I, Myself, the Sovereign, the Omnipotent. He is the One Who ordaineth life and death and unto Him shall all return. Indeed there is none other God but Him and all men bow down in adoration before Him. Verily Thy Lord, God, shall presently recompense every one as He ordaineth, even swifter than uttering the words 'Be thou, and it is'.

God hath in truth testified in His Book and so also have testified the company of His angels, His Messengers and those endued with divine knowledge, that thou hast believed in God and in His signs and that everyone is guided aright by virtue of thy guidance. This is indeed a boundless grace which God, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, hath graciously conferred upon thee aforetime and will confer hereafter. And since thou didst believe in God before the creation, He hath in truth, at His own behest, raised thee up in every Revelation. There is no God but Him, the Sovereign Protector, the All-Glorious.

It behooveth you to proclaim the Cause of God unto all created things as a token of grace from His presence; no God is there but Him, the Most Generous, the All-Compelling.

Say: All matters must be referred to the Book of God; I am indeed the First to believe in God and in His signs; I am the One Who divulgeth and proclaimeth the Truth and I have been invested with every excellent title of God, the Mighty, the Incomparable. Verily I have attained the Day of the First Manifestation and by the bidding of the Lord and as a token of His grace, I shall attain the Day of the Latter Manifestation. There is no God but Him and at the appointed hour everyone shall bow down unto Him in adoration.

I render thanks and yield praise unto God for having been chosen by Him as the Exponent of His Cause in bygone days and in the days to come; there is none other God save Him, the Glorified, the All-Praised, the Ever-Abiding. Whatever is in the heavens and on the earth is His and through Him are we guided aright.

O people of the Bayan! Those who embrace the Truth must turn unto Me, as ordained in the Book and divine guidance will be vouchsafed to whosoever attaineth My presence.

Extracts From An Epistle To Muhammad Shah

The substance wherewith God hath created Me is not the clay out of which others have been formed. He hath conferred upon Me that which the worldly-wise can never comprehend, nor the faithful discover ... I am one of the sustaining pillars of the Primal Word of God. Whosoever hath recognized Me, hath known all that is true and right, and hath attained all that is good and seemly; and whosoever hath failed to recognize Me, hath turned away from all that is true and right and hath succumbed to everything evil and unseemly.