Thank thou G.o.d, for tho hast chanted the verses of the Mighty guidance in the a.s.semblage of knowledge and hast unfurled the banner of attraction in those most extensive places. Therefore, appreciate this with due appreciation and know thou that this guidance is a gift, greater than which cannot be imagined. Forasmuch as it is a bounty from the Glorious Lord, a success to every sincere servant, a light for the faces of devoted ones and a bestowal from the Lord, the Clement, the Merciful.
"O ye who are advancing towards the Kingdom of..."
O ye(114) who are advancing towards the Kingdom of G.o.d!
Mr. ........ hath praised you that, verily, ye have rent the veil asunder, removed the covering, become informed of the mysteries of G.o.d and of the symbols of the Holy Bible, have understood the interpretations of its verses, discovered the truth of its evidences and been guided to the Path of His Kingdom; are imploring for His heavenly gifts and are engaged in His commemoration among seekers. Verily, I thank G.o.d, for He hath guided you and ordained for you this great success and manifest bounty. Kiss, on my behalf, the faces of your august children who are nurtured from the breast of the guidance of G.o.d.
"O My G.o.d! O My G.o.d!..."
O My G.o.d! O My G.o.d!
This thy servant hath abandoned superst.i.tions, emerged from darkness and hath entered into Thy Light which hath shone forth to the world! Praise be unto Thee, O My G.o.d! for thou hast removed the covering from his insight, caused the reality of Guidance to appear unto him and hath ordained for him a gift which is not followed by destruction!
O Lord! O Lord! Send unto him a gentle breeze from the garden of Thy sanct.i.ty in Thy Kingdom of Abha, so that he may be refreshed and developed as a flourishing branch in that adorned and thickly planted grove; cause his tongue to speak Thy praise among mankind and confirm him through the breath of Thy Holy Spirit at the time of prayer, so that he may become a soul unto bodies, a light unto every eye, a joy to every heart, a consolation to every depressed one, a happiness to every grieved one, and a proof to every gazer! Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Potent, the Bestower, the Merciful, the Giver!
"O thou who art advancing unto G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing unto G.o.d!
Thy precious and beloved letter came to hand and all contents noted.
Consider how the bounty of G.o.d hath surrounded thee until it brought thee to the sh.o.r.e of the sea of the endless and boundless gift of G.o.d! I supplicate the benevolence of G.o.d and His providence to make thee a dazzling light and a merciful and bounteous gift to His creatures; and to enable thee to be firm and steadfast in the Cause of the Truth and to appoint thee as a means for the exaltation of His Word.
"O thou confirmed by an inspiration from the Kingdom!..."
O thou confirmed by an inspiration from the Kingdom!
Blessed thou art, for thou hast delivered the Word of thy Lord to ........, the maid-servant of G.o.d!
Glad-tidings unto thee for that by reason of which the spring of knowledge hath flowed out in the garden of thy heart, inundated thy tongue and made thee utter the name of thy Lord and call the people to the Kingdom of thy G.o.d!
I supplicate G.o.d, my Lord and thy Lord, to illumine thy forehead with the light of success and victory, strengthen thy spirit by the breath of G.o.d, quicken thee by the spirit of G.o.d and make thee a pillar of guidance set up in the firmament of the Kingdom of G.o.d.
Grieve not because of my imprisonment and calamity; for this prison is my beautiful garden, my mansioned paradise and my throne of dominion among mankind. My calamity in my prison is a crown to me in which I glory among the righteous. Thou shalt hear greater than this.
I ask G.o.d to a.s.sist whosoever is related to thee to receive guidance in the future days, and to bless Mrs. and Miss ........, Miss ........ and Miss ........, and make them the signs of His gift among the people of the world.
"O thou who art attracted unto the Beauty of El-Abha!..."
O thou who art attracted unto the Beauty of El-Abha!
Verily I read thy recent letter***, and noted its beautiful contents and meanings which proved thy firmness in the straight Path.
O friend! Be set aglow with the fire of the love of G.o.d, so that the hearts of the people will become enlightened by the light of thy love.
Supplicate to G.o.d, pray to Him and invoke Him at midnight and at dawn. Be humble and submissive to G.o.d and chant the verses of thanksgiving at morn and eve, for that He guided thee unto the Manifest Light and showed to thee the straight Path and destined to thee the station of nearness in His wonderful Kingdom. Verily I ask G.o.d to augment for thee, every day, the light of guidance and His gift of virtue, comfort and ease. Thus thou mayest set a good example in that region; that He may lift up the veil from before the eyes of thy mother and father, so that they may witness the lights of the Kingdom of G.o.d, which have encompa.s.sed all regions.
"O thou who hast spread the Fragrance of G.o.d!-may..."
O thou who hast spread the Fragrance of G.o.d!-may G.o.d confirm thee!
Since thou hast reached America, we have not received any message announcing to us thy safe and sound arrival there, but Mr. ........, in a letter to us, hath endeavored to explain in detail that thy return was like showers of rain to that country and like the attack of a lion upon those valleys and mountains. He also informed us that thou hadst been received there with honors by the best men; by those whose b.r.e.a.s.t.s were dilated by the gentle breeze coming from the gardens of the Kingdom of G.o.d.
O thou who warmest thyself by the fire of the love of G.o.d, spreading from the Tree of the Covenant! Let thy soul be at ease and thy heart in peace concerning the perfect success and progress which the pen is not able to express, for in a short time thou shalt see the flag of the Kingdom waving in those far and wide regions, and the lights of the Truth shining brilliantly in its dawn above those horizons, and thou shalt know that thou art the center of the circle of the love of G.o.d, the axis around which souls revolve in their way and supplication to G.o.d. Therefore, thou must widen thy heart, dilate thy breast, have patience in plenty, calmness of soul and cut thyself from everything but G.o.d! By G.o.d, the truth is, if thou goest according to the teachings of El-Abd(115) and followest the steps of Him who is annihilated in G.o.d, thou shalt see that the cohorts of the Kingdom of G.o.d will come to thy help, one after another, and that the hosts of the Might of G.o.d will be in thy presence in steady succession, the gates of the great victory opened and the rays of the brilliant morning diffused! By thy life, O my beloved! if thou didst know what G.o.d hath ordained for thee, thou wouldst fly with delight and thy happiness, gladness and joy would increase every hour! El-Baha be upon thee!
Present to the beloved people of G.o.d there my longings for them. Preach to them the glad-tidings of G.o.d.***
Present my best greetings to the honorable and spiritual women, to those who are very much attracted toward G.o.d, and particularly to that one who have proved that it is possible for a camel to pa.s.s through a needle"s eye. May G.o.d keep them in joy and happiness and burning with His love.
"O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of G.o.d!
Be rejoiced for my mentioning thee and gladden thine eyes by the bounty of thy Lord. Know, verily, that His favor unto thee is great, great; for He guided thee unto the Merciful Light, confirmed thee in bearing calamities and hardships in the path of G.o.d, on the part of the neglectful ones.
There is no harm in any affliction which befalleth thee in the love of El-Baha, for this affliction is a gem which glistens and shines on the crown of guidance which adorns thy head among the maid-servants. Remember the hardships of the disciples, and what Mary, the Virgin; Mary, the Magdalene; and Mary, the mother of Jesus, bore in the path of G.o.d; especially Barbara, until she was martyred in the love of Christ; and she being attracted unto the Kingdom of G.o.d, her spirit soared unto the summits of holiness in the paradise of eternal life, in the place of Meeting.
"O thou whose nostrils are perfumed with the Fragrances..."