O thou real friend! Such entertainments are always necessary, for they cause the increase of love, unity and harmony in the friends of G.o.d. Bring about (such entertainments) by all means.
"O thou esteemed maid-servant of the Word of G.o.d!..."
O thou esteemed maid-servant of the Word of G.o.d!
Praise be to G.o.d! upon thy departure from Acca, thou hast been a.s.sisted and rendered successful in serving the Kingdom of G.o.d. Accordingly, thou must offer the utmost thanks to the Threshold of Oneness, for this, thy journey, was fruitful and this peregrination became the cause of discovering the mysteries of the Lord of Glory.
Arise thou, in unison with his honor [thy husband], to serve with the utmost devotion and consecrate your time, night and day, to promote the Word of G.o.d, to diffuse the fragrances of G.o.d and to guide all the people of the earth. In the world of existence nothing hath any result, even if it be dominion over the East and West. But that which hath an immortal result is servitude in the Holy Threshold, service rendered to the Kingdom of G.o.d and guiding all in the earth. I hope, through the divine grace and bounty, thou wilt be a.s.sisted and strengthened therein.
"O thou who art kindled as a lamp with the Fire of the..."
O thou who art kindled as a lamp with the Fire of the Love of G.o.d!
Be thou a fountain flowing with the waters of the mercy of G.o.d, a myrtle perfumed with the fragrances of G.o.d and a bird warbling the most wonderful melodies of the knowledge of G.o.d in the garden of faith.
Know thou, verily, the Sun of Truth hath shone forth with the lights of peace upon all regions. Strife and conflict will surely be removed from all the nations of the earth. Carnage shall be taken away; fighting, violence and reviling will be changed into universal reconciliation and the hosts of tranquillity will pitch their tents in the midst of the world. Then the awning of the mercy of thy Lord will be hoisted and those souls who are free from the filth of prejudice, contradictions and presumption and are filled with a love that imparts affinity, intimacy, affection, meekness and humbleness will be sheltered under it.
"O thou who art cheerful in heart, by the Fragrances..."
O thou who art cheerful in heart, by the Fragrances of the Merciful!
Verily, I read the verses of thy thanksgiving unto G.o.d, for depositing in thy heart an eternal joy reviving thee by the breath of the Holy spirit to everlasting life, [for having] cast upon thee the light of guidance and awakened thee by the breezes of His great mercy. Therefore, thank G.o.d for this. Verily, His bounty to thee is great, great!
Beware not to be sorrowful on account of my confinement; inasmuch as it is the comfort of my heart, the healing of my breast, the dispeller of my sorrow and sadness, the cause of my salvation in servitude to the Bounty of El-Abha.
If thou desirest to pray for me a beneficial prayer, do not ask for the removal of my imprisonment, but implore G.o.d to increase my calamities in the Path of El-Abha, to make me a sacrifice in His love and give me to drink the cup of martyrdom by His bounty and grace.
I ask G.o.d to confirm thee by the breath of His Holy Spirit, the hosts of His angels and armies of His strength, so that thou arisest to serve the vineyard of G.o.d and to enlighten the insight of thy revered husband by the light of the knowledge of the Greatest Name. This is not far from the bounty of thy Lord.
The maid-servant of Baha", the Exalted Leaf(191), conveys to thee greetings and praise-likewise the rest of the brilliant leaves(192) .
Regarding the star which appeareth while thou art turned unto G.o.d: This is the spiritual disclosure and the divine impression. Also the fire circle which appeareth to thine eyes, is a spiritual transfiguration and [signifieth] the Eternal Grace manifesting itself in the human garment; because "cloud" signifies the human form (or body), while the "circle of fire," the divine form, which is manifested in the reality of man.
"O thou who art attracted by the Love of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Love of G.o.d!
In the Persian tongue has thou written a letter; I was happy to read it.
Praise be to G.o.d! This is the dawn of the light of unity between the Eastern and Western people. In Persia the English language is being studied widely and in America the Persian tongue is beloved by some dear souls. In both countries the respective languages are being studied. This is in itself a proof that the East and the West (literally, place of sunrise and sunset) shall clasp hands as two families. The standard of unity shall be raised, and the means of love and friendship will be accomplished.
Endeavor to complete the study of the Persian-thus mayest thou read the Tablets of the Blessed Beauty(193) and mayest translate them, and without the interpreter"s aid thou mayest read all my letter to thee.
"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!
Thank thou the kind Father for that the world of creation was adorned with the light of His Manifestation and the heart of the universe found comfort in His mercy, for His infinite mercy whereby He illumined thine heart with the light of guidance and thy sight with witnessing His radiance to the extent that thou didst hearken to he call of the Supreme Concourse and didst turn to the horizon of sanct.i.ty. Praise be to Him and to Him be thanks for this greatest favor and evident attainment!
As to thy vision, it is reality itself (it is what hath occurred).
Whatever thou hast seen in the realm of vision is interpreted in the contraries and opposites, for laughter in the world of vision is weeping, and weeping, joy and happiness; death is longevity, and dangers, in certain cases, safety itself. Harm (in this wise) is helpfulness, and friendship, enmity and hatred. Therefore, thou shalt not kill the lamb; nay, rather thou shalt be the cause of the spread of His Name; thou shalt share a portion of His eternal life and attain a share of His infinite mercy. The impressions of the heart (the painful feelings of the heart), which were like the blows of a weapon, are interpreted to mean joy and happiness. I hope that thou mayest attain to all these.
The purport of the study of the Persian tongue is this: That thou mayest memorize a commune in the Persian and at the time of communion and supplication, when present in the meeting of the maid-servants of the Merciful, thou mayest chant it.
The translation of Tablets is acceptable and beloved. If, occasionally, thou writest a concise, terse and useful article, with the utmost sweetness, containing the teachings and exhortations of the Blessed Perfection, verbatim, for the purpose of publishing in the journals of Denmark, it will be most agreeable. I ask G.o.d for strength and confirmation for thee.
"I ask G.o.d that thou mayest find a perceiving eye, an..."
(194) I ask G.o.d that thou mayest find a perceiving eye, an attentive ear and an eloquent tongue; that thou mayest loosen thy tongue in delivering the Cause of G.o.d, promoting the Word of G.o.d in that country, educating the children and training them in the training of G.o.d, and in early childhood enkindling in their hearts the lights of spiritual morals.
Thou hast written that in thine articles for the papers thou hast cited from the holy Tablets of Tarazat and Tajalliat. It is very agreeable.
Respecting the translating of Miss Barney"s book, in which thou hast engaged thyself, it is very agreeable; but thou must communicate concerning this with Miss Barney herself. She will a.s.sist thee in its publication and spreading.
I ask G.o.d to aid thee by the divine confirmation and engage, night and day, with the commemoration of G.o.d.
Upon thee be Baha El-Abha!
"***O ye real friends of Abdul-Baha!..."