Chapter 16

8 "The tree beyond which there is no passing", a reference to the station of the Manifestation of God.

9 These are examples of the types of questions put to the Bab. According to the teachings of Shi'ite Islam, leadership of the Islamic community belonged of right, after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, to a line of twelve successors, descendants of His daughter Fatimih, known as "Imams". This line being eventually severed through the "occultation" of the last Imam, communication with the latter was for a time maintained through a succession of four intermediaries known as "Gates".

10 One of a trio of Arabian goddesses whose worship was abolished by the Prophet Muhammad.

14 This is Baha'u'llah's second Tablet addressed to the French Emperor. An earlier Tablet was revealed in Adrianople.

16 Within the year Napoleon III was defeated at the Battle of Sedan (1870) and sent into exile.

19 The two Most Great Festivals are the Festival of Ridvan, during which Baha'u'llah first proclaimed His Mission, and the Declaration of the Bab. The "twin days" refer to the Birthdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah. cf. Kitab-i-Aqdas, ¶110.

27 Mirza Buzurg Khan, the Persian Consul-General in Baghdad.

28 The Mu'taminu'l-Mulk, Mirza Sa'id Khan-i-Ansari, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

29 Baha'u'llah here refers to His and His companions' application for Ottoman citizenship.

30 Aqa Siyyid Muhammad-i-Tabataba'iy-i-Isfahani, known as "Mujahid".

31 The second Russo-Persian War of 1825-28.

32 Qur'an 2:94; 62:6.

33 cf. Persian Hidden Words, nos. 24, 25, 28 and 30.

34 Qur'an 49:6.

35 Qur'an 5:59.

36 A Tradition ascribed to the eleventh Imam, Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-'Askari.

37 Traditions ascribed to the sixth Imam, Abu 'Abdu'llah Ja'far as-Sadiq.

38 Traditions ascribed to the sixth Imam, Abu 'Abdu'llah Ja'far as-Sadiq.

39 Qur'an 2:179.

40 Qur'an 6:164; 17:15; 35:18; 39:7; 53:38.

41 cf. Qur'an 3:40; 14:27; 22:18.

42 cf. Qur'an 5:1.

43 cf. Qur'an 5:64.

44 Qur'an 40:5.

45 Qur'an 36:30.

46 Qur'an 8:30.

47 Qur'an 6:35.

48 cf. Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33.

49 John 14:28.

50 cf. John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7.

51 See, for example, Qur'an 4:46; 5:13; 5:41; and 2:75, and the discussion in the Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 84 ff.

53 'Ali Ibn Husayn, known as "Zaynu'l-'Abidin", the second of the Imam Husayn's sons, who became the fourth Imam.

54 The Kharijites, a faction opposed to both the Imams and the Umayyad state.

56 Allusions to the 'Abbasid and Umayyad dynasties, respectively.

57 Qur'an 57:16.

58 cf. Luke 19:21.

59 cf. Qur'an 55:26.

60 cf. Qur'an 12:31.

61 This Tablet was revealed in Arabic in honour of Haji Muhammad Isma'il-i-Kashani, entitled Dhabih (Sacrifice) and Anis (Companion) by Baha'u'llah, and addresses 'Ali Pasha, the Ottoman Prime Minister, referred to here as Ra'is (Chief or Ruler).

63 Sultan 'Abdu'l-'Aziz lost both his throne and his life in 1876. During the subsequent war with Russia (1877-1878), Adrianople was occupied by the enemy and the Turks experienced a violent bloodbath.

64 Literally, "the Mount of Figs" and "the Mount of Olives", cf. Qur'an 95:1.

65 Chosroes II, the Sasanian monarch who reigned in Persia during the lifetime of Muhammad.

67 Haji Ja'far-i-Tabrizi; he was prevented in time from ending his life.

68 Siyyid Isma'il of Zavarih.

72 This second Tablet of Baha'u'llah addressing 'Ali Pasha was revealed in Persian shortly after Baha'u'llah's arrival and confinement in 'Akka.

73 For an account of this incident see _God Passes By_, p. 182.

74 A probable reference to the fire of Hocapasa, which destroyed a large part of the city of Constantinople in 1865.

75 The Lawh-i-Fu'ad was addressed to Shaykh Kazim-i-Samandar of Qazvin, one of the apostles of Baha'u'llah. Its subject, the former Ottoman statesman Fu'ad Pasha, died in France in 1869. The letter names_Kaf_and Za refer to the K and Z of Kazim.

76 cf. Qur'an 38:3.

77 cf. Qur'an 13:13.

78 cf. Qur'an 40:32.

79 cf. Qur'an 38:12, 89:10.

80 "heart" translates _fu'ad_, the given name of the Ottoman minister.

83 Mirza Mihdiy-i-Rashti, a judge in Constantinople and supporter of Mirza Yahya.

85 John 14:28.

86 John 16:13.

87 John 1:13.

88 The French Ambassador in Constantinople.

90 The Persian Ambassador in Constantinople.

91 Qur'an 51:55.

92 Qur'an 49:6.

93 Qur'an 12:53.

96 Qur'an 15:88.

97 cf. Qur'an 77:20; 32:8.

98 Qur'an 40:28.

102 Qur'an 4:94.

103 Qur'an 6:52.

104 Qur'an 6:44.

106 The Persian Consul-General in Baghdad.

108 Qur'an 20:55.

109 Al-Muqanna' of Khurasan (eighth century A.D.).

110 Qur'an 4:94.